Record sought for National Pubs Week
National Pubs Week is on countdown to its big launch on Saturday, with organisers confident more licensees than ever will sign up for the big event. The Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) says the seven days will provide a national stage for the trade to remind people what the British pub is all about. It expects last year's figure of 15,000 participating pubs to be beaten. One of the first major events will be the announcement of Camra's coveted National Pub of the Year award, while mid-week will see the launch of the new Save Your Local booklet. Thwaites taps into 30-million pint deal Lancashire-based brewery, Thwaites, has signed its biggest contract deal to date with Coors Brewers. Thwaites will contract brew 30 million pints a year for the American brewing giant. The deal involves Thwaites brewing some of Coors' regional ale brands, continuing to stock Carling and agreeing to stock Coors Fine Light in its estate. Cask Marque coup for Marston's Marston's Visitors Centre in Burton has been awarded the Cask Marque seal of approval. The Brewery Tap venue passed all the inspections, including beer temperature, taste and presentation. Licensee Sheila James, who has been at the brewery for 30 years, was presented with the award. St Austell's hands out awards Cornish brewer St Austell's has recognised its best tenants and managers in an awards ceremony. Managers of the Year was jointly won by Alan and Sue Fern, of the Fort in Newquay, and Eddie and Lisa Hoogervorst of Tyacks Hotel, Camborne. On the tenanted side, Glyn and Julie Price of the Carlyon Arms, St Austell, scooped Tenants of the Year. The Cask Ale Pub of the Year award went to tenants John and Sally Daniels of the Cornish Arms, Hayle, and manager Nick Evans, of the Cromwell Arms in Bovey Tracey. BII holds cask-ale event in Edinburgh The British Institute of Innkeeping is inviting licensees from across the Edinburgh region to a free event on 4 March to look at how to make more profit from cask beer. Paul Nunny, director of Cask Marque, will be one of the speakers at the event, which takes place at the Caledonian Brewery. Reserve a place by contacting Emma Penchion on 01276 417846. Metal detectors used to find weapons Hand-held metal detectors are to be introduced as a crime-fighting measure at pubs in the Buchan area. The Aberdeenshire Community Safety Partnership has funded the scheme, which will be used by local Pubwatch members to keep dangerous weapons out of bars. Detectors will be circulated around pubs so offenders do not get accustomed to where they are used.
