CAMRA signs up key partners for National Pubs Week

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has signed up four key trade partners for next year's National Pubs Week.

The consumer group also announced the dates for the week, which will run from February 21 until February 28 2004.

The Publican will be the official media partner for the event.

Enterprise Inns, Charles Wells Brewery and Tynemill Inns have agreed to support the event, which will now run every year, by getting their pubs to organise promotions throughout the week.

Mike Benner, CAMRA's head of campaigns, said: "We never imagined that 15,000 pubs would come on board for our first National Pubs Week. It was such a success that we now plan to stage it annually, in February, as this is the time of year when pubs need a boost as they face a quiet period following the Christmas rush.

"We thought that to build on the success of this year's event we needed to create a partnership with a number of companies that represent the diversity of the British pub market. The Publican will help us get the message across to the different segments of the pub trade."

Lorna Harrison, editor-in-chief of The Publican, said: "This is an important week for the pub industry and we are very pleased to be one of the trade partners supporting the initiative."

Peter Wells, retail marketing manager for Charles Wells, said: "National Pubs Week is a great initiative from CAMRA. The pub is often the lifeblood of many communities. Having a week such as this will encourage drinkers to go out and experience their local. There is a pub out there for everyone!"

To get on board, contact CAMRA on 01727 867201 or see www.camra.org.uk/pubsweek