WHO’S FOR THE PUB? ‘IT’S BETTER DOWN THE PUB’ NATIONAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES

With eight out of ten people counting themselves as ‘pub goers’ and over 15 million visiting a pub once a week, we all want to talk about how much fun we have down the pub!

It’s Better Down the Pub is a national campaign launched by a group of organisations and companies representing Britain’s 51,000 pubs across the UK, to highlight what we all love and cherish about the good old British pub and to encourage people to support their local more.

What does your pub mean to you? Why do you think it’s better down the pub? Is it always where you meet your mates to watch the big match, have a quick pint after work, catch up with the girls over coffee or a glass of wine, or where you enjoy the best Sunday lunch with the family? Well, It’s Better Down the Pub want to know, so now’s your chance to tell the nation why you think it’s better down the pub.

Pub goers are being invited to get involved by entering competitions via the websitewww.itsbetterdownthepub.com, with the chance to win a whole host of amazing prizes. These range from spot prizes such as goodies from sponsors, to higher value wins including a digital camcorder, i-Pad and tickets to major league sporting events, like the Heineken Cup. All you need to do is upload your videos, pictures and stories of why you love your local to the website and join in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. The only way to win is by getting the most votes!

With the founding group made up from leading industry figures and organisations including Admiral Taverns, British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), Everards, Fullers, Pub is the Hub (PITH) and Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), many of the major industry players* are now getting behind the initiative as well, making It’s Better Down the Pub a campaign to be a part of.

Sky Sports presenter, Jim White, a supporter of It’s Better Down the Pub and commented:“Pubs play a hugely important role in our communities across the UK from, rural areas to city centres. From my perspective, pubs make a huge contribution to the fun and excitement of the sporting world and make the best local venue to cheer on your team with friends and family. It’s Better Down the Pub provides a great opportunity to celebrate what makes our pubs great, so next time you’re down the pub, capture and share the moment!”

Full details of this year’s campaign can be found at the It’s Better Down the Pub website detailing prizes, entry criteria and how to share your pub moments.

Pub Facts[i]:

– 8 out of 10 people count themselves as ‘pub goers’ and over 15 million visit a pub once a week

– There is an estimated 51,000 pubs in the UK

– Prince Charles is the Royal Patron of Pub is the Hub scheme

– Around 52 pubs are facing closure every week

– 1 million jobs are supported by the pub industry

– As an industry, the pub sector contributes over £19 billion to the economy, over 2% of GDP

– Around 13 million tourists visit pubs every year. According to Visit Britain going to a pub is the third most popular activity for overseas visitors

– 20 million pints of beer are enjoyed every day in Britain

– More than 85% of beer consumed in Britain is brewed here

– Over £100 million is raised for charity by pubs every year

– ENDS –

Please drink responsibly. Visit www.drinkaware.co.uk for the facts.

Notes to Editors

· To view It’s Better Down the Pub promotional film: http://itsbetterdownthepub.com/video

· For full details of the campaign visit:

Website: http://itsbetterdownthepub.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ItsBetterDownThePub?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IBDTP

· The competitions are open to anyone over 18

· It’s Better Down the Pub entries can show a pub in its broadest context and film entries should be between 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length

· It’s Better Down The Pub upholds the Government’s Drink Responsibly guidelines and promotesDrinkAware.co.uk

· The initial founding sponsors are: Admiral Taverns, BII, Everards, Fullers, PITH, SIBA

· *The secondary sponsors are: Pub is The Hub, IFBB, CAMRA, Stonegate, Britvic, Diageo, Venners, Poppleston Allen, Matthew Clark, Sky, Gamestec, Heineken

· Other supporters: Star pubs & Bars, Punch Taverns, Spirit Leased, CGA, M&B, Cask Marque, Carlsberg, PMA, In a Pub, Propel, APPBG, Thwaites, Coors, Enterprise Inns, AB Inbev, Intertain

· Pubs featured in the promotional film are: The Swan, 66 Bayswater Road, London, W2 3PH; The Old Horse, 198 London Road, Leicester, LE2 1NE; The Forge, Main Street, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8DG; The Cholmerley Arms, Burton Lane, Burton Coggles, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG33 4JS; New Inn, Wrexham Road, Johnstown, Wrexham, LL14 1NU; The Swan Hotel, 46-46a Greengate Street, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 2JA; Traveller’s Rest, 1903 Leek Road, Milton, Stoke, ST2 7AQ; The Holly Bush Inn at Salt, Nr Stafford, ST18 0BX; Hung, Drawn & Quartered, 26-27 Great Tower Street, London, EC3R 5AQ; The Counting House, 50 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3PD; The Camden Eye, 2 Kentish Town Road, London, NW1 9NX

· Notable figures who have posted their own clip are: Andrew Griffiths MP; Brandon Lewis MP; Charlotte Leslie MP; Greg Mullholland MP; Lord Kennedy

For any media enquiries and information requests including interviews, features, events and photography please contact:

Michelle Williams, Fleet Street Communications T: 020 3567 5806 E: michelle@fsc.uk.com
Melanie Rawlings, Fleet Street Communications T: 020 7922 5770 E: melanie@fsc.uk.com

[1] Facts and figures referenced from BBPA