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We Love Our Brakspears
by John Cryne
Following the news in the last Full Pint about a possible sale of the McMullen’s brewery, CAMRA has launched a major new hearts-and-minds campaign to persuade the shareholders and management of another regional brewer, Brakspear, that the Henley-on-Thames company has a future... as a brewer.
A new web site, letter and poster campaign urges stakeholders to pledge their support for the company to keep brewing great beers in Henley on Thames, its home for over 200 years. The campaign is in response to the recent announcement that the company’s beer division is under review, which could result in the closure of the Henley site and the company quitting brewing and becoming a pub chain. Colin Lanham, CAMRA Central Southern Director, said, “We are supporting the company with a positive campaign to boost consumer support of Brakspear beers and shareholder confidence in the future of brewing. While times might be difficult at the moment, we firmly believe that the company would not prosper without its brewery. Brakspear’s greatest asset is its beers.”
CAMRA is mounting a major awareness-raising campaign in and around Henley, with posters and lapel badges being distributed across local CAMRA branches and to Brakspear pubs. A petition will sign up beer drinkers across the country and beer lovers can pledge their support at a specially produced web site at www.savebrakspear.com. CAMRA has written to all the brewery’s 400 shareholders stressing that Brakspear has a great future as a brewer with its own tied estate. Mr. Lanham added, “Many shareholders have relatively small shareholdings and I think they will have strong feelings about any decision to exit brewing. It’s a hearts-and-minds campaign in an attempt to support one of Britain’s most prestigious and respected brewers.” Brakspear’s have long had a presence in London and is a popular favourite at beer festivals.
Speaking personally, it was one the first beers I cut my drinking teeth on at The Dove in Reading and should the brewery close; it would represent a loss of one of the finest crafted brews in England. Look out for it on the bar and see what I mean.
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 16.
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