Ethical Travel - Campaign for Real Ale
Travelling is thirsty work and sometimes you’ve just got to sit down and grab a pint. But beyond the convenience of the Belushi’s bars at every St Christopher’s Inn, is there some good to be done by drinking in a prime selection of old school pubs ‐ purely ethically speaking of course? Well maybe there is and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) might just be the ticket. Jackie Reddy investigates the most historic pubs in Britain and the fight to keep the tradition alive.
Story Highlights
- CAMRA
- Use ’Em or Lose ’Em
- Last Orders
CAMRA
As a traveller it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the number of pubs in the UK. A quick peek around and you’ll notice that beyond the little old Belushi’s chain, many are owned by the big name breweries and you should never forget the little guys. But what do you get in return for your support? Well quality quaffs and that most sought after of travel experiences ‐ the chance to mix with locals! The pub is the heart of community life in the UK, so when you support a local you’re not just supping a brew ‐ you’re keeping a tradition alive.
This is what CAMRA is about. The organisation was formed in the seventies by four travelling buddies who weren’t thrilled with the quality of ale that had become the norm in the UK. Thirty years on and 100,000 members later, the charity is still rooting for quality ales, local pubs and consumer rights. So don’t settle for an average pint in an OK pub ‐ because CAMRA wants you to taste the regional ciders, perries and ales that are part of the UK’s heritage.
Use ’Em or Lose ’Em
CAMRA’s Jon Howard said: “What we are about is championing quality in the real ale industry and supporting community pubs at a time when 52 pubs are closing nationally, per week.” So with that statistic in mind how can we support CAMRA? Well that’s easy ‐ get down the pub because if you don’t use ’em, you’ll lose ’em. Fancy yourself as a bit of a beer boffin? Well check out CAMRA’s 16 Regional Pubs of the Year contest, which selects the best pubs on the basis of atmosphere, customer service, clientele and value for money, not to mention the biggie ‐ beer quality. When the 16 are chosen, they compete against each other for the top prize ‐ the accolade of National Pub of the Year.
Last Orders
So local business and local ale aside, are there any other reasons to support CAMRA? Yes! As Jon tells us, these pubs are not only places where people are open to trying new beverages, but they typically cater to responsible drinkers, which is always a good thing. Finally, if a pub serves local real ale, then there’s also a massive reduction in transport cost ‐ that’s low beer miles, my friends. Check you environmentally friendly guys out! And all you did was go to the pub.
Last orders ‐ CAMRA needs your support so if you’d like to know more about real ale ‐ or just have a real good (and responsible) time supporting your local ‐ then check out camra.org.uk.
‐ Jackie Reddy
