Opinion
Topical articles and pieces from a personal point of view.
An Open Letter to the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Dear Chancellor, I am writing to you with a plea to take wide-ranging measures in your Budget to help our struggling pubs. The latest dire prediction...
Veteran breweries celebrate milestone
Born in the USA was released by Bruce Springsteen, the UK miners’ strike ends, EastEnders premieres on the BBC and Roger Moore’s last Bond film, A Vie...
Maybe ask young people
I’m very sceptical when anyone speaks about Gen Z or any demographic cohort with seeming authority. Usually the characteristics of each generation see...
Manchester happening
Manchester felt like it could be the centre of the universe this summer. Thousands of tourists flocked to the city largely to witness and celebrate on...
Mild’s stronger than you think
On my first trip to the Beacon Hotel in Sedgley I found a visitor from Japan in one of small rooms supplied by the central bar. When I asked him what...
The Firkin Saga goes on
The Firkin Saga by David Bruce, Right Book Press, ÂŁ18.99 In July 1979, when David Bruce transformed the boarded-up Duke of York under a railway arch i...
Best bitter ploughman’s
I am writing this as the UK basks in another heatwave, whilst a good few of you may have been sat sipping a refreshing pint or two in a bucolic countr...
Alcohol free: situation normal?
Like the introduction of an official CAMRA keg bar in 2019, this year has seen a momentous evolution at the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF). A form...
A festival for all?
There was a palpable sense of anticipation ahead of the announcement of this year's Champion Beer of Britain. As the clock ticked closer to 4pm, vario...
Pubs should be parent and child friendly
It was the loneliest I’d ever been. A few years ago, I took parental leave when our first-born was still a baby and found myself with days in front of...
view archive
view events