Daley joins Gale

George Gale & Co has appointed a chef as its first catering development manager. Jonathan Daley will be involved in creating tailor-made pub menus. Pond strife A diver was called in tosalvage 21 barrels of beer which rolled off a lorry into a pond. The accident happened near Liskeard, in Cornwall. Salter's Celtic move Celtic Inns has appointed Mike Salter as non-executive chairman. He joins the group after 30 years in the brewing industry, including a stint as managing director of Charrington Inns. OBE for Cotton Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, has receivedan OBE in the New Year's Honours list for services tothe tourism and hospitality industry. January ales Customers sank 176 pints of Theakston's Best Bitter in 145 minutes after the cost of a pint was reduced to 50p in a January sale at the Babington Arms, Derby. Acorn branches out Acorn, the largest independent finance brokers for the licensed trade, has launched a website to help prospective landlords identify the route to a successful purchase. Visitors can enter details of the type of property they want and inwhat area and Acorn will pass on the information to property agents. Binge thinking At least half the population thinks alcohol advertising encourages binge drinking, according to a survey by research company BMRB. It found 39% of the 2,400people questioned believed advertising encouraged binge drinking to a certain extent and a further 14% said it was definitely to blame. Only 44% said drinks advertising does not lead to excessivedrinking. Sales slide fear The German drinks industry is bracing itself for a fall in sales in the first half after the Government there introduced a25 cents (16p) deposit on the purchase of a can or disposable bottle of beer or soft drink. The move is part of an increase in the country's eco-tax. Labour promo The Co-op and the Labour Party have joined forces in a promotion aimed at boosting party funds. Members visiting the Labour website are encouraged to purchase a bottle of Bollinger, Moet & Chandon and Laurent Perrier Champagne with a percentage of the purchase price being donated to the party.