With the most recent Beer & Pub Association report highlighting that 39 pubs are closing every week, CAMRA has to do more than ever to support local pubs through these difficult times.
CAMRA has launched a new campaign called Local Pubs Week for 2009 that aims to:
- Raise the profile and importance of pubs in the community
- Encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to use community pubs and visit the pub more often than they currently do
- Encourage pubs to organise events during the week to entice more trade
It was estimated that approximately 30-40% of CAMRA branches have participated in past pub campaigns such as National Pubs Week and Community Pubs Week. Historically these campaigns have been organised in February, a time when pubs were quiet after the busy Christmas and New Year period and needed a boost to their trade.
Unfortunately, due to many factors outside the control of the pub e.g. smoking ban, increases in excise duty, beer being sold in supermarkets as a loss-leader etc pubs now more than ever, need support throughout the year.
To help make CAMRA's pub campaigning more effective and encourage more CAMRA branch participation, it has been decided that CAMRA's branches across Britain can now find the most appropriate time in their busy calendar to organise their own Local Pubs Week in 2009. This week of action could depend on the number of volunteers available to make the campaign a success or perhaps organised at a time that focuses on a certain local pub campaigning theme.
To help pubs promote their participation in a Local Pubs Week, CAMRA has produced free generic material that includes:
- A Local Pubs Week logo
- Beer mats - 200 for each pub
- Pump clip crowners - 3 for each pub
- ‘Empty belly' A4 posters - 4 for each pub
- Briefing Pack
Please support Local Pubs Week as best you can as British pubs need our support now more than ever.
When is my Local Pubs Week?