Welcome to the October/ November 2021 edition of London Drinker. I’m pleased to say that there is quite a lot of encouraging news in this edition. It is however still early days for our precious pubs. Although Christmas and New Year are on the horizon, several changes to the financial support arrangements are coming into effect about now and there is also the spectre of unpaid rent. Most of this is covered in the COVID update.
Above all, what pubs (and clubs) need is your money in their tills. For this reason, I would ask any readers thinking of joining in Sober October to have second thoughts. I fully understand that it is being staged in support of a truly excellent charity, Macmillan Cancer Support, but does supporting them have to involve not going to the pub – or even be limited to one specific month? There are other ways of fundraising for them. It is none of my business should you wish to give up alcohol but, given the range of ‘low and no alcohol’ drinks available these days, why curtail your healthy social activity to do it?
The voting process for CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain competition opened on 1 September and closes on 1 November. If you are a CAMRA member, this is your chance to have a say in this prestigious award. Please log on to cbob.camra.org.uk. There is also a guide to the voting process on the website.
Readers might also want to catch the end of Cask Ale Week (23 September to 3 October). A list of events can be found at https://caskaleweek.co.uk/activities- 2021/.
Tony Hedger