Support for Gales grows

The question really is - Is the brewery vulnerable to a takeover ? If it is , then perhaps Fuller's bid is the least of all evils.

No, the deal is done. The takeover is confirmed. But that does not make our campaigning unnecessary. It is to influence the effects of the takeover that we are campaigning for.

Fullers are a fine company with a commitment to real ale, but we must be cautious as to the potential outcome of this takeover. Fullers are very likely to close the Horndean brewery, cease brewing Gales beers, and possible sell off some of the pubs as residential to help fund their aquisition. We can have an influence in all those areas, but we need support. To sit back and do nothing is defeatist and will do nothing for the protection of beer choice and variety.

We understand some pubs that take Gales beers are already being asked to deal through Fullers and are likely to have their Gales beers replaced by Fullers beers. These are free houses. It is almost certain the same is happening in the Gales estate.

HSB may well remain as a brand, brewed in London, but Gales Best hits head to head with Chiswick Bitter, and the excellent Festival Mild will certainly be at major risk. Not to campaign for Fullers to keep brewing Gales beers at Horndean is akin to accepting the validity of Greene King brewed Morland or Ruddles.

It is yet another step towards globalisation of brewing. And what of Fullers themselves? It has already been mentioned that they too may be at risk.

Not campaigning would mean one more step to the brewing in this country being controlled by one company brewing one bland flavourless beer - at best with different badged names.

Is that what you really want? If it is, don't sign our petition. If its not, encourage everyone who enjoys real ale to support the retention of brewing Gales beers at Horndean and the maintenance of the Gales pub estate.

I look forward to hearing you support these aims by signing the petition. You can link to it, this very minute, from here:

Best wishes,

John B

On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 9:19:14 +0000, John B wrote (in message ):

Why is everyone on this group so ready to be pessimistic? Last year there were more independent brewery startups in this country than there have been for decades.