You’re in a pub and see a free magazine about beer — do you pick it up or leave well alone? Depends on the cover I suppose and then the paper quality and then whether you follow CAMRA (for let’s face it most free mags, apart from the parish ones, will be CAMRA newsletters), so it’s not the most simple of choices. I only ask because I’ve contributed to one that has been launched in the north-east under the guidance of the multi award-winning beerwriter Alastair Gilmour. It’s called North East Cheers and features articles and news about pubs and beers in its home area (I’ve written a piece in praise of dogs in pubs). As someone who used to edit a CAMRA newsletter a few years ago I think it’s great for free magazines to be available in the pub, something to browse through as you suckle on your pint. Obviously, it helps that you have something readable, not something full of ads (obviously they are essential) and also if the licensee and his customers manage to keep the magazines in order — there’s nothing worse than a stack of mags and newsletters spread about on a table or a place on the bar, hardly an incentive to pick one up. So if you’re out and about in the north-east (a pint at the Cumberland in Bykers Bank or an ale at the Barrasford Arms) have a look for Cheers, I think it represents a step-up for free beer magazines.
I enjoy reading the London Drinker when I get a copy in the pub, and judging by how quickly they disappear I can't be the only one who enjoys a free read in the pub.
ReplyDeleteMeer — I think CAMRA newsletters have really come on in design and capability in the past decade.
ReplyDeleteJust written a post about this myself. Good article, Adrian, shame Jay Jay forgot to smile! I agree that free newsletters and magazines in the pub are great, it's a shame that some of them are often poorly edited and produced. CHEERS isn't one of them! (Sadly, T&N CAMRA's own CannyBevvy occasionally is, but we are working hard on this, especially now there is 'competition'!).
ReplyDeleteI would like to see more of these kind of publications in pubs. If I pop into a pub for a quick pint by myself I look for a bit of literature and if there are no newspapers on hand I find myself studying the menus.
ReplyDeletehttp://beerdemon.blogspot.com/
Fortunately I find myself nobbut a stone's throw from the Cumberland Arms at my brother's house. I shall have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteChris — thanks for that
ReplyDeleteDJ — sometimes menus can be an inspiration in their own right but you’re right, something to read, especially if you’re travelling and want to find out about the local scene.
Jeff — thought you went up there when we were down for the press trip or was it Tony Brookes’ pub we were in?
Definately agree in respect of the CAMRA mags - there are some cracking ones out there - filled with news, views and decent articles. And yeah, oddly comforting when enjoying a pint.
ReplyDeleteLeigh — what can be pretty liberating about them and I speak from my own experience is that you can go outside the real ale yard and bring in articles about beers from the likes of the US, Oz and Patagonia if you’ve got members (as Somerset has) who travel the world in search of good beer — I even think I had something on Sahti and I’ve seen another about beer from Zambia.
ReplyDeleteMy brother's house (or rather, hoos) is about 5 mins walk from the Cumberland.
ReplyDeleteOften we'll go there for a pint or two, for as long as we can stand the fiddly folky stuff. We'll then go down the steps to the Cluny.
That's exactly what we did last night. I visit Ste every six weeks or so.
Sometimes it's good to have something to read at a bar, when you're alone, taking a sip or taking a shot of liquor. It's a saver for the bored ones
ReplyDelete