Pleisure launches 'plucky' beer in lease campaign

The Great Eastern pub in Brighton is leased to spirits specialist Pleisure Pub Company, which has been told by Ei the lease will not be renewed when it runs out in March.

More than 5,000 people have signed an online petition encouraging the pubco to change its mind over its decision about the Great Eastern.​ The petition also calls for the pubco to renew the leases of Pleisure's two other pubs in the city, the Saint James and the Office, when they become due.

Named ‘Save The Eastern’, the special 3.8% brew is on sale at the three pubs from this week. The local brewer behind the beer has chosen to remain anonymous.

Nick Griffin, managing director of Pleisure, described the one-off edition as “a plucky little number, an independently minded beer. Just like the Great Eastern.”

A donation for every pint sold will be given to charity Fareshare, which redistributes surplus food to organisations within the city of Brighton & Hove and the Worthing area, which feed vulnerable groups.

'Character and community'

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, has backed the campaign and outlined her concerns to Ei Group in a letter.

She told The Morning Advertiser​: "The Great Eastern is such a well-loved pub and it's a terrible shame that it's at risk. I've written to Enterprise Inns about their plans and have supported the campaign to save the pub as we know it.

"People in Brighton want character and community from their pubs - so I hope EI will see sense and renew this lease."

The pub is also running a poster design competition and producing 'Save The Eastern' badges.

“We would like to reassure customers that we are committed to ensuring that this site remains an attractive and thriving pub at the heart of the local community,” a spokesperson from Ei Group​ said.