UK: CAMRA campaigns to keep Gales brewing
Beer consumer group, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) announced on November 7 that it has reacted angrily to todays announcement that London brewer Fullers is to acquire George Gale and Company in Horndean, and has pledged to fight to prevent the closure of the 158 year-old Hampshire brewery.
Mike Benner, Chief Executive, said, Gales is a brewing landmark in Hampshire, brewing award-winning beers such as HSB and Festival Mild. Todays announcement by Fullers makes no promises to keep the Horndean brewery open and it is clearly under threat. We will campaign to protect this unique Victorian tower brewery from closure.
The irrevocable deal leaves Fullers with around 360 pubs and access to Gales substantial free trade accounts. The future of the Gales Brewery and its beers is unclear as Fullers plans a major review of its operations.
Mike Benner added, In 2005 alone we have seen Ridleys of Essex and Belhaven in Scotland fall victim to Greene King and Jennings of Cumbria swallowed up by Wolverhampton and Dudley. Consolidation is eroding our brewing heritage and reducing consumer choice.
CAMRA will be seeking assurances from Fullers that the Horndean Brewery will continue to brew the full range of Gales beers and that Gales pubs will not lose their identity with the Hampshire brewer.
CAMRA has a good relationship with Fullers and it has demonstrated its commitment to an interesting range of quality cask beers. We will be pressing Fullers to continue this tradition and ensure Gales beers continue to be brewed in their Horndean heartland.
Mr. Benner said, There are potential beer portfolio clashes and we dont want to see Gales Butser Bitter or Gales Best handpumps replaced with Fullers Chiswick or London Pride. Drinkers in Hampshire will not take kindly to the loss of their favourite beers.
John Cryne, CAMRAs Brewery Liaison Officer and former National Chairman of CAMRA, said, Whilst we clearly oppose the takeover, it does provide some sort of counter balance to the growing domination of W&DB and Greene King. Hopefully the fact that a family owned brewery has this time found shelter with another member of the Independent Family Brewers of Britain, rather than joining the big two where its identity would quickly be subsumed, will result in a future for both Gales and Fullers..
Gales Festival Mild is a long standing favourite with real ale drinkers and has picked up a number of CAMRA awards including the silver medal in the Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition in 2003 and 2004. Gales also brews Prize Old Ale, a unique real ale in a bottle.
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