Hand on heart, I can categorically state I am not going to spill the beans about what the release contains, even though to my mind, it contains nothing particularly sensational or noteworthy. The release of what is now the 49th Good Beer Guide, is obviously an important moment for CAMRA, even though the major milestone won’t be until next year, when the GBG will celebrate its half-century.
I am not giving much away by saying that the guide contains some interesting statistics, which don’t detract from its main purpose, which is to direct users to the cream of the nation’s pubs, bars, tap-rooms, and clubs. There are 4,500 of these and the fact that any of them appear at all, is testament to the hard work put in by local CAMRA branches, across the country, in managing to collect, assess and collate the necessary information during a time of lockdowns and other Covid-related restrictions.
I know, from regular contact with members of my former branch, that an incredible amount of work goes into the production of the GBG, with surveying and then selecting those pubs worthy of entry. The work doesn’t stop there as a considerable amount of checking and proof-reading, is necessary, before the Guide can go to press. This vital contribution, from members – who are all unpaid volunteers, is an aspect that the CAMRA bigwigs often overlook, and one that has long been one of my main beefs with the Campaign.
Although unlikely, there remains a possibility that a number of unscrupulous ex-members, people potentially with an axe to grind, might just be tempted to cause the odd bit of mischief by breaking the news embargo. Of course, one could argue that as the same email will have been sent out to most of CAMRA’s 180,000 members, the chances are that one or two of them might just spill the beans, intentionally or otherwise.
There is one particular I can reveal, without doing any of the above, as it is one which I am sure comes as no surprise to seasoned CAMRA observers. That news item is, the Campaign seems as obsessed as ever with new breweries. Amazingly, their number has continued to rise, despite the hardships of lock-downs plus the trials and tribulations affecting the licensed trade.
CAMRA would, in my opinion, be better off concentrating its efforts elsewhere, but to all those looking forward to the new Guide, and to visiting some of the pubs it recommends, good reading, and happy hunting!
Footnote: I won’t be investing in a physical copy of the Guide, come release day, although there’s every chance I will purchase the updated app version.
4 comments:
Just a guess, but is the good news that CAMRA is going to update its list of members' e mail addresses? I think I've supplied mine three times but never get anything from them, although I do receive the 'Beer' comic by post. To be honest, I can't think of anything likely to justify an 'embargo' except that it may have an impact on individual pubs, usually if they are 'in' for the first time in years, when there might be some more trade for a few weeks. What I would like to know is if the GBG makes money for CAMRA, although this always seems to be regarded as 'commercially confidential' even for members doing the surveys. However, the 'embargo' does make it seem more important than it really is, so if it gets sales then why not?
The other good news, Ian would be for CAMRA to drop the superfluous pages, that constitute the Breweries Section, at the rear of the Guide. I doubt many GBG readers/subscribers are interested in such a dull and dreary list, and should they wish to discover more about the latest “man in a shed” brewery, they could always go online.
As for the Campaign’s mailing and email lists, I imagine by now, that the system is broken, beyond repair. I appreciate it is difficult keeping tabs on 180,000 members, but other subscriber-based organisations seem to manage. It certainly sounds like their IT systems are long due a major overhaul.
The embargo is all flannel and more of a “puff-piece” than anything else, but I agree that if it helps generate additional sales, there’s no harm in it. I do wonder why CAMRA treats the profitability of the Guide as commercially sensitive. My impression always was that the GBG was something of a “cash cow” for the organisation, so perhaps this isn’t the case.
Great mind think alike, Paul. I'd like the breweries section removed too, so that folk who just tick beers rather than pubs ("scoopers" ?) can have their dedicated guide and my pub book is a lot smaller. Simon (BRAPA) cuts his out with a Stanley knife but I think I'd cut my finger off.
And I don't celebrate the rise in the number of breweries as CAMRA does. Very few of them will see their beers on a bar (and if they are they'll rarely be served in top condition) and they'll struggle to afford their own tap room. And I see no reason why breweries like Greene King and Marston should give space on their bars for competing guest beers as CAMRA urgesl their beers are really that much different, or better made.
Hi Martin, I'm sure Simon has mentioned before, surgically removing the breweries section from the GBG with a Stanley knife. Just the thought of it, brings visions of cut, or missing fingers to mind, but it does demonstrate the lengths people go to, in order to remove this superfluous section from the Guide.
I agree that very few of these new "person in a shed" breweries will ever see their beers on sale in a pub, and yet hardly a week goes by without reading about yet another start-up.
This then leads on to these outfits paying a lower rate of duty; a subject that has led to much debate within my local CAMRA branch, and one that I am staying well clear of. The recent budget has muddied the waters even further - something to do with container size?
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