BEER NEWS - June 2007

Greene King's Cellar Doctor

An innovative advice and diagnostic service has been launched in a bid to stop licensees losing millions of pounds of business every year because they serve a bad pint. The online 'Cellar Doctor' service has been launched by Greene King, as they seek to call time on poor quality pints. Research shows that 41% of people who are served a poor pint will go elsewhere for a better beer. With the annual spend on draught beer in the UK now topping �12billion, concentrating

Fuller's get in the swing

Fuller's London Pride is the official beer of the London Senior Masters golf tournament to be held at the London Golf Club from June 22 to June 24, 2007. Highlights of the tournament will be shown on Sky TV. The agreement is the latest in a series of golf-related link ups for London Pride, which is also the title sponsor of The Publican Pub Golf Tournament. The London Senior Masters is one of the leading events of the golfing calendar and players including Sam Torrance, Bernard Gallacher and Eamonn Darcy are expected to play. As part of the sponsorship package, London Pride will be available to spectators and Fuller's will be running a promotion across its free trade golf customers allowing golfers to get a free ticket to the event with every four pints of London Pride.

Theakstons' whodunnit

Hamming it up for the camera (right) are Chief Executive of Harrogate International Festival, William Culver-Dodds and Simon Theakston, Executive Director of Theakstons Brewery. Voting for the 3rd 'Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award,' is now underway - the only literary prize to be voted for by the general public. Votes can be cast at any of Waterstone's branches in England, Scotland and Wales, or by visiting www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime, There is also a 'Whodunit?' competition on the websites of the festival, www.theakstons.co.uk and www.waterstones.com with a prize that includes a weekend package to the Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate plus a tour of the Theakstons brewery with Simon Theakston.

Innes & Gunn Cask Strength

Innis & Gunn, the revolutionary Scottish brewing company that ages its beers in oak, has announced a listing in Sainsbury's and Waitrose for its Innis & Gunn Cask Strength beer, 7.7% abv, at �1.99 per 33cl bottle. This beer, awarded a coveted five stars by beer-pages, will join Innis & Gunn Original (�1.49) that was launched in 2003 and which is already Britain's fourth largest speciality beer brand by value. Innis & Gunn Cask Strength is packaged in a smart red and gold box, and is in stores now. It was first brewed in 2005 as a limited edition.

Cains 100

Entrepreneurial brothers Sudarghara and Ajmail Dusanj have agreed a reverse take over of AIM-listed pub operator Honeycombe Leisure PLC to create a new business with 109 outlets and an annual turnover of �65.5 million. The new group - formed from Honeycombe and the Cains Brewery owned by the Dusanj brothers - will be renamed Cains Beer Company PLC to capitalise on the strength of the premium brand 'Cains'. It will be listed on the AIM market and 57.65 per cent owned by Sudarghara and Ajmail Dusanj. The company headquarters will be at Cains' brewery in Stanhope Street, Liverpool. The deal brings together Honeycombe Leisure's estate of 100 pubs, concentrated mainly in the North West, with the nine already operated by

Arkell's trades fair on coffee

Swindon-based Arkell's brewery is putting Fairtrade coffee machines into all its managed houses, and encouraging tenants to do the same. According to Arkell's Craig Titchener: "All businesses like to think they are buying ethically and buying Fairtrade goods means that the farmers receive a better price for their produce, helping to strengthen the economic viability of their organisations. Fairtrade tea and coffee makes us feel warm inside for two reasons: because we're making a positive contribution and because it tastes fantastic." Arkell's is buying its coffee through Bewleys Coffee in Ardington near Wantage. Director Shaun Craddock (pictured) said: "We have trade customers all over the South West of England, including Oxford University. We buy directly from the producers, paying a slightly higher price which we then absorb into our costs, so customers like Arkell's pay the same as for ordinary coffee."