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NEWS


New Cheltenham Taproom To Offer Free Pint to the First 100 Customers
To mark the opening of its new Taproom at the former Fire Station in Cheltenham, Mad Dog Brewery Co will be treating the first 100 customers to a free pint on 13 December. Offering 100 per cent natural beer, the family-owned and run business will be opening the historic building from 12 noon. Famous for serving beer with all UK sourced natural ingredients, patrons can enjoy its core range including Kolsch style lager, Welsh Red Ale, American Pale Ale, Oatmeal Stout and the B
Dec 11, 2025


PubAid Unveils Christmas Ad Backing the Vital Role of UK Pubs
The industry advert is inspired by the beloved 1970s Hovis advert championing the simple, heartfelt pleasures that pubs offer at the heart of local life. PubAid, the UK’s independent voice for pubs, has unveiled a new Christmas TV advert championing the industry’s vital contribution to community sport. Titled ‘The Pub Run’, the film follows publican Justine Lorriman of The Royal Dyche in Burnley as she runs through the town, gradually joined by the many sports teams her pub
Dec 11, 2025


Erdinger Alkoholfrei Launches Campaign to Get Active in 2026
ERDINGER Alkoholfrei has broken with tradition by launching a campaign encouraging consumers to adopt a healthy lifestyle and get active at the start of the New year. It steps away from the customary drinks industry focus on just cutting back on alcohol in January and supports the brand’s reputation as the sporty thirst quencher. The ‘Get Active with ERDINGER Alkoholfrei’ campaign will run on 500,000 neck collars carried on promotional 500ml bottles of the Bavarian low-alc
Dec 11, 2025


Take a Look Inside Wavetree Community Pub Following Over £315,000 Makeover
The Wellington on Picton Road in Wavetree, Liverpool reopened on Friday 28 th November following a transformational investment of more than £315,000. The pub is part of Proper Pubs, the award-winning community wet-led operator division of Admiral Taverns, which operates more than 220 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales. The investment has completely revitalised The Wellington, giving it an elevated look and feel throughout as well as an improved flow to enhance customer
Dec 11, 2025


Reminder Guild Members: Submit Content for the December Members' Work Mailout
The deadline to submit content for this month's mailout is Tuesday 16th December. Each month, the Guild distributes a newsletter to members, industry partner representatives and the public which contains information and links to our members' latest work. Whether it is a book, an article, a broadcast or an event, this is a great way to share. To submit your work, please fill in the form found here . Guild members and industry partner representatives will automatically receive
Dec 10, 2025


‘AleHunters’ Paul Davies Bringing His Annual Dark Beer Tasting to Brewery Market, Twickenham
'AleHunters' Paul Davies will be bringing his annual dark beer tasting to Brewery Market, Twickenham at 8pm on Thursday 18th December. Barring lockdown this event has been an annual treat since 2018. Paul says 'this year the beers are all from Belgium and are not commonly available for sale in the UK. Some are very limited edition releases and are hard to find even in Belgium. In fact some have already sold out.' The tasting will include festive sharing platters, lots of laug
Dec 10, 2025


Fuller’s Reveals a New Look for the Wellington at Waterloo
Sport and exceptional hospitality remain at the heart of this iconic pub and hotel The Wellington in Waterloo has reopened after significant investment in its bedrooms, bar area and kitchen – including the addition of a new private meeting space. With Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and 14 TVs throughout the pub, The Wellington has become a regular for sports fans – serving up the best atmosphere to catch all the action. The pub’s new look offers up even better viewing opportunities
Dec 10, 2025


Shepherd Neame Serves Up Some Festive Favourites, Including Seasonal Special Christmas Ale
Independent family brewer, Shepherd Neame, is pulling out all the festive stops to ensure it’s a season to celebrate in its pubs and hotels – and also at home. Festive favourite Christmas Ale (5% ABV on draught) has returned, and is now available at selected pubs across Kent, London and the South East. The full-bodied beer, which boasts warming notes of mulled fruits and spices, combines pale and crystal malts with Target and Challenger hops for bitterness, and Goldings h
Dec 10, 2025


BeerX UK Shortlisted as ‘Event of the Year’ Finalist in the TAF Awards 2026
BeerX UK, organised by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), has been shortlisted as a Finalist in the Trade Association Forum (TAF) Awards 2026 after achieving impressive growth in recent years. Now by far the UK's biggest beer and brewing trade event, BeerX has been recognised by the judging panel of the TAF Awards after a record-breaking year in 2025, which clocked their largest attendance ever and a 50% bigger footprint than previous years. “I am h
Dec 10, 2025


Creating Connections: Norfolk Pub Steps in to Support Local Community with Village Store
Locals in the village of Alpington and its surrounding villages can pop to the pub for all their essential food items after The Wheel of Fortune opened its village store in support of its local community. The Alpington Community Shop was officially opened by local celebrity ITV Anglia news presenter David Whiteley. Publicans Naomi Shulver and Barry Gelder took over The Wheel of Fortune in March 2022 after purchasing the freehold. They have worked hard to ensure the pub o
Dec 10, 2025


Alpacalypse Becomes Second-Highest Selling Session IPA in Less Than a Year
Sales of SALT’s Alpacalypse have surged to make it the UK’s second most popular session IPA after just 10 months on sale [1] . Launched by the Yorkshire craft specialist SALT, in partnership with Molson Coors, in January 2025, the 4.3% ABV IPA has quickly become one of the fastest-growing craft beers in the UK on-trade and is now the third-best selling beer of all craft keg ales [2] . Having secured listings in over 4,000 pubs and bars, venues are pouring the accessible and r
Dec 10, 2025


Guild Members: Guild Awards 2025 Feedback Survey
Now that our annual awards and dinner is over for another year, we're starting to plan the 2026 awards, and we need your help! Whether you came along to the event this year or not, we'd like to hear from you. Please spare a couple of minutes to complete the feedback form (the deadline is 31st December 2025). Thanks! Feedback Form
Dec 9, 2025


Pintjes: Launch Best-Selling Zine Celebrates Place Du Jeu De Balle’s Best Cafés Before They Disappear
The award-winning Brussels café zine Pintjes returns for its third edition on 11 December, this time celebrating the folksy cafés of Brussels’ most iconic square. PINTJES, the zine celebrating Brussels’ unique café culture, is set to launch its third edition this week at the iconic CHAFF on Place du Jeu de Balle . This edition of the zine - its third - captures the square and its iconic folkloric cafés at a moment of change. With several having disappeared in recent years, an
Dec 9, 2025


Britain’s Oldest Maltster, French & Jupps, Welcomes Annabelle Degroot as New Managing Director
French & Jupps Maltings, Britain's oldest maltster established in 1689, has appointed Annabelle Degroot as its new Managing Director, effective Wednesday, 3 December 2025. As an accomplished leader, Annabelle brings a wealth of global experience and specialised expertise from her career in the beer industry with SAB Miller and AB InBev and more recently with Unilever where she focussed on climate and nature related initiatives. Grounded in her financial background, Annabell
Dec 9, 2025


Devon-Based Sandford Orchards Scoops More Awards for Non-Alcoholic Cider, Red Zero
Devon-based Sandford Orchards is celebrating a fantastic year of awards for its new non-alcoholic cider, Red Zero . It has just been named ‘Low and No Alcohol Category Champion’ by Taste of the West after winning Best Non-Alcoholic Cider at the World Cider Awards, Best New Drink at the Food Drink Devon Awards, Gold from The Farm Shop and Deli Awards and Silver from the Great British Food Awards. Barny Butterfield, founder of Sandford Orchards comments: “Red Zero has had an
Dec 9, 2025


Various Updates from Gabe Cook
1. International Cider Awards: 3-5 March 2026 I am the Chair of this amazing competition which only happens every 2 years. I believe this to be THE global benchmark for cider competitions. It's not the cheapest competition but it is the best. The cost ensures the highest calibre of judges, which are all cider makers. In 2026 they will be from the UK ( Josh Faulkner-Elliott - Aston Manor ), USA ( Christine Walter - Bauman's Cider & Eleanor Leger - Eden Cider ) , Norway
Dec 8, 2025


Independent Brewers issue open letter to Welsh Parliament cabinet secretary calling for support 'to ensure that breweries and the hospitality sector can survive'
The Society of Independent Brewers & Associates (SIBA) have today written an open letter to Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, calling for further support for Welsh brewers in light of the Budget announcements on Business rates. The letter reads; Dear Cabinet Secretary The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) represents around 700 independent breweries across the UK including around 40 in Wales. Our members operate at the hea
Dec 8, 2025


SBPA Call for Temporary Licensing Statements for World Cup
Beer & Pub Assoc. Respond to Scotland Matches Scheduled for 11PM and 2AM Commenting, Paul Togneri of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association said: “This is a once-in-a-generation moment for Scotland fans and should be a major boost for Scotland’s pubs, but with kick-offs at 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM, that opportunity is at risk. Each match should give an estimated £3m boost to Scotland’s pubs but we need licensing boards to show flexibility and allow pubs to open their doors, that’s w
Dec 8, 2025


No Pubs, No Party
Scottish pubs could get £15m boost with licensing change for World Cup The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) is urging decision makers to support extension to licensing hours to ensure fans can enjoy next year’s historic World Cup matches in their local pubs. The current licensing regulations restrict pubs in most parts of the country from operating beyond 1am, which could mean fans miss key games likely to kick off at 11pm and 2am. Pubs may also miss out on a signific
Dec 8, 2025


Scottish Beer & Pub Association Announces New President Anne Toms – Budweiser Brewing Group Appointed
The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) has today announced current Vice President Anne Toms, External and Government Affairs Lead at Budweiser Brewing Group, will become its new President. Anne takes over from Andrew Lawrence of Molson Coors Beverage Company, who has held the position since March 2022 and is moving on to become Chair of the BBPA's Future Brewing Group. Anne Toms will join Chief Executive Emma McClarkin, Strategy & Policy Director Andy Tighe, and Senior P
Dec 8, 2025
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