NEWS IN BRIEF
• An estimated 2,800 licensed premises in Scotland have either closed or stopped selling alcohol. In December 2007, Scotland had around 19,300 liquor licences, but by May 2010 this figure had dipped to 16,500. The new Licensing (Scotland) Act, the smoking ban and the economic climate have been blamed.
• Orkney Blast from the Highland Brewery of Birsay, Orkney, is CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Scotland 2010. The accolade was announced at the Scottish Real Ale Festival in Edinburgh on 26 June.
• The Thornbridge brewery in Bakewell, Derbyshire, will be running its own brewery bar at this year’s Great British Beer Festival in Earls Court, London. The Festival runs from August 3rd-7th and is
Wine Buffs
Waverley TBS added extra sparkle to the CALA lunch with its captivating What’s My Wine? competition, which tested the wine knowledge of those present and found a fair smattering of experts in the audience. The aim of the CALA event was to recognise the important role played by the club associations and to reward high-performance clubs nominated by the organisations supporting them.
Club Mirror ale
Prior to the main Club Awards, the Hail the Ale Beer Festival, entering its second year, opened its doors to connoisseurs of real ale and offered some excellent cask products from some of the UK’s leading microbreweries, a super regional and a big national brewer
Racing Tips
Boxing Day, of course, means Kempton and the King George VI Chase with Kauto Star bidding to win for a record fifth time. Paul Nicholls’ brilliant 10-year-old has recorded eight, 11, eight and 36-length victories during the last four renewals and he advertised his current well-being with a comfortable success in the jnwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal last month.
The Big Event
As the evening drew near, the Club Awards 2010 beckoned and the stage was set for a great night out. Award winners and guests packed the Palace Hotel’s Grand Ballroom and were treated to a spot of prize-winning horse racing, courtesy of John Smith’s
Foster’s Comedy Awards winners
Comedian Russell Kane won the Foster’s Best Comedy Show award at an awards ceremony held in Edinburgh during the famous Fringe festival and hosted by Pub Landlord, Al Murray, and Tim Key, winner of the 2009 Best Comedy Show.
Stop press: darts deadline... Knockout opportunity for clubs
John Smith’s People’s Darts is hitting the bullseye with clubs. And there’s still time to enter - but you need to act fast. Clubs have until October 15 to register their winning member for the regional finals.
Two club success stories
A club with debts of over £84,000 has paid off what it owes and is now considering a refurbishment.
Ask the Experts Live!
Club Mirror, in association with Marston’s, is working with clubs and suppliers to bring you a brand new trade event dedicated to the club sector. Come and join us and some of our key partners at Derby County Football Club on December 1 for Ask the Experts Live.
Green future for refurbished fitness club
Chorley Fitness has invested a massive £120,000 on renovation and refurbishment with a green agenda.
Oh, Mr Porter! As winter
As winter approaches, Club Mirror checks out some dark ales or ‘Porters’. While popular during the times of Charles Dickens, ‘porters’ have fallen out of favour in modern times as lighter beers have become more fashionable
What's in a name?
One of the great things about ales is their names. Here are six of our quirky favourites from some well known regional brewers.
Mixed feelings on world cup
Clubs around the country are reporting mixed feelings over their success - or otherwise - during the recent World Cup.
Report highlights mistreatment of volunteers
The recently published findings of the Volunteer Rights Inquiry have highlighted cases of badly managed and mistreated volunteers.
Rateable value subscription rates reviewed
Following extensive consultation with the industry, and in recognition of the diverse nature of the licensed trade, Sky has announced a new way of establishing subscription rates
Guidance for artificial pitches
New guidance on artificial surfaces, drawn up by Sport England and the Football Foundation, will ensure that the right surfaces are installed in the right places, delivering maximum
Name change for CCPR
The Sport and Recreation Alliance is the new name for the CCPR (Central Council for Physical Recreation).
New life for an old Jesmond Legion
A Royal British Legion Club in Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, is tackling its dwindling membership by opening up the club to the wider community.
Small brewer of the month
Number Thirteen: The Elland Brewery, W. Yorkshire
The SIBA Great Northern Beer Festival at Manchester’s Palace Hotel last month was jam-packed with microbreweries from the North, one of which was the Elland Brewery.