The appeal had received more than 14,000 signatures at the time of publication, 4,000 more than the minimum required for a Government response.
On Thursday 24 April the Government shared its response: “The Government is setting up an inventory to recognise Intangible Cultural Heritage in the UK.
“We will open a public call later this year and would welcome a submission on cask ale.”
The petition was created by award-winning beer writer Johnny Garrett and will be ongoing until Wednesday 1 October 2025.
Beer sommelier Annabel Smith told The Morning Advertiser (The MA): “Cask beer is so unique to the UK, visitors from all over the world cite it as one of the top things they want to experience when visiting the UK.
“Cask is made with natural ingredients and is a live product, but the wonderful quirky thing is, it’s not ready to drink when it leaves the brewery gates.
Special recognition
“It needs to go through another process in the pub cellar, so brewers and publicans work hand in hand to get that process right.
“The expertise in getting the balance right is an art form, a skill, that rarely happens anywhere else in the world, and for this reason it should gain special recognition.”
In March 2024, the UK officially joined the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).
The convention, which involves the safeguarding of traditions and practices of cultural heritage, entered into force for the UK in June last year.
Financial pressure
Following the ratification, the petition called on the Government to recognise the production and serving of traditional British cask ales as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
It said: “Cask ale is unique to the UK – a historic and traditional production and serving method.
“We believe its flavour and texture is unrivalled anywhere in the world and can only be consumed in pubs with specific equipment and expertise.
“With the hospitality industry under financial pressure, it’s vital we protect cask ale from further decline, both for its financial role in pubs, breweries, maltings and farms and for its cultural one in British society.”
· Sign the petition here
