CAMRA launches campaign for Brakspear pubs to remain independent
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is using this week's Great British Beer Festival to build support for its campaign to save Brakspear's pub estate.
The organisation is asking visitors to the festival to buy a pint of Brakspear's beer in support of the campaign, which was launched after the company confirmed it is to close its brewery in December.
CAMRA has now warned that this leaves the Brakspear pub estate open to a takeover bid by one of the UK's giant pub operators. It is asking consumers to support its campaign for assurances from Brakspear's directors that this will not happen.
Mike Benner, head of campaigns and communications at CAMRA, said: "The loss of the 223-year-old brewery in Henley is a major blow, but we must now turn our attention to the pubs before they too are lost.
"We campaigned to keep Brakspears vertically integrated, but its decision to quit brewing leaves the pubs open to takeover unless the board takes steps to help ensure their future independence."
CAMRA is seeking assurances that an exclusive supply deal will exist between Brakspear pubs and Refresh UK, which will soon take over the brewing and marketing of the Brakspear beer range and is planning to build a new specialist brewery in the Thames Valley to brew Brakspear beers under licence.
Mike Benner added: "We firmly believe that Brakspear pubs and Brakspear beer cannot be separated. Without the beer the pubs will soon lose their unique identity."
CAMRA is also calling on the Brakspear board of directors to call an emergency meeting to explain its failure to make the brewing operation profitable, fully explain its decisions to quit brewing and give a full account of its plans to keep the pub company independent.
Related articles:
Brakspear to close its brewery (22 July 2002)
