Opinion
Topical articles and pieces from a personal point of view.
End of an era at guide treasure
One of the joys of upping sticks to an entirely new place is discovering the pubs and breweries on your new doorstep. Right at the top of my to-do lis...
Rising costs put pubs at risk
Twin crises are endangering pubs and breweries. Pubs face escalating costs that send the price of beer rocketing and lead to a loss of customers. The...
Urgent action need to fight energy crisis
We breathed a collective sigh of relief when the pandemic came to an end and pubs were able to trade again. Little did we know what was hurtling down...
Putting beer on the menu for the next generation
Anyone who’s lucky enough to take part in a fine dining event will know that the drinks offer rarely extends beyond “red or white”? Which is why it wa...
What’s in a London Pub Name?
Londoners, want to know which pub is named after a bare-knuckle boxer, or a colour of chicken? Or which pubs inspired the names of tube stations? Well...
The good, the bad and the ugly of our pubs
The pub trade is reminiscent of one of those old Spaghetti Westerns – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. We saw the ugly side last month when spokesmen f...
Wet-led pub’s dilemma
The Covid pandemic continues to throw a long shadow over the embattled British pub. And it’s “wet-led” pubs that are feeling most of the pain – that’s...
Celebrate Beer Day Britain and raise a glass to the rise of the micro
Today we mark Beer Day Britain - a lovely opportunity to celebrate one of the nation’s favourite drinks, and those who make it. The day marks the anni...
Black cloud refuses to shift
I’m grateful to Rupert Thompson, boss of Hogs Back brewery in Surrey, for lifting the large black cloud hovering over my head. Hard on the heels of th...
On a visit to another branch
During a recent visit to Dumfries and Galloway I picked up a Spring 2022 copy of Full Pints, the award-winning magazine of the Ayrshire & Wigtownshire...
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