Read on the internet that a certain pub sold cask ales, so we booked a meal for ten of us. When we arrived there's three different signs outside saying "cask ales". When we ask at the bar, we're told "oh, we don't do those".
Annoying !
Like the ones that say "food available {all day}", then look at you like you are an idiot when you try to ask for some, or tell you you are 10 min too late.
A while ago I went to a pub advertising "real ale", and couldn't see any. I asked what they had, and it seemed they thought nitro Tetley was real ale. Further investigation found the staff thought "real ale" meant "not lager".
Name names. Then everyone else can vote with their feet. (Plus the occasional passing visit by a group of size x to tell them they could have had x additional customers...)
Not only annoying but false advertising surely? The local trading standards office might have something to say about it.
- Robin.
Is there a legal definition of Cask Ale? Doesn't all beer served from a keg font or beer engine come in casks?
OED definition certainly.
Kegs for one version casks for the other - hence the label sometimes used by those in the trade of "cask ales" for what most people call Real Ale.
Kent Trading Standards have only had to warn a few pubs about prominent (and false) Cask Ale signs for them to be taken down rapidly.
Whitbread used to be a little tardy at this but knew the rules. Some of the younger pubco's might just need educating courtesy of a visit from the council.
Topsy
In article , Alan writes
Kent - how about Capel ? (Talking totally hypothetically of course)
Far better to give a friendly request first before resorting to making a report to the council/trading standards.
IMO, only if that fails should 'official' channels be used.
John B
In article , Manky Badger writes
Which Capel? There are two in Kent, only an hour apart!
Topsy
Is there ? I mean the one near the festivals you organise. Where's the other ?
MB
Sorry, but I can't agree. In Stockport & South Manchester we have mounted a campaign against this sort of thing. The 'informal approach' usually gets the fob off that the signing is nothing to do with the licensee but the pubco/brewer. Trading Standards will in any way initially make an inform approach before getting heavy handed.
John C
In article , Manky Badger writes
There are festivals all over Kent during the average year. The White Cliffs festival is in Dover (near Capel-le-Ferne), there are several festivals near Capel in the West of the County including the Gravesend & Darenth festival and the West Kent festival.
Speaking for Capel-le-Ferne, my info tells me of 3 pubs: Royal Oak, Lighthouse & Valiant Sailor. All apparently sell cask ale.
Topsy
Then we have to agree to disagree.
Nearly all the 'informal approaches' in my area have met with positive results. We have approached three pub owners in one town in the last year and two have amended their signage. The third promised to do so and of course is being watched.
I do not believe it is a good idea to mount public campaigns that name specific outlets unless private negotiation has failed as it raises the risks of antagonisms developing. And yes, in the past we have reported pub owners to TS when they have failed to take heed of suggestions. The results have not always been successful. I wonder if any pub owner has ever been prosecuted via TS for such a contravention - I would be very surprised if so.
Perhaps we are just less heavy handed and more diplomatic in the south ;-)
John B
Really nasty pub in Balloch (Lock Lomond) did that to us as well!
Brian
The Valiant Sailor doesn't. I asked.
MB
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