CAMRA's Christmas warning

By Steve Heighton
Posted: 21/12/2011

The Rugby Branch of CAMRA has issued a stark warning for this Christmas and New Year, that if people don't use their local pub or club over the Festive period, they may not get another chance. 

Steve Heighton the local spokesman explained the warning, ''The Christmas holiday period is a massive time for pubs as they, like many other shops, look to attract customers at peak times. If people do not use their local pub then these places will suffer and with a national average of two pubs closing a day, Rugby pubs are at risk too. Since last Christmas there are at least six pubs that are not open this Christmas. Despite all Political parties promising to address the problem of the supermarkets undercutting prices to safeguard the livelihoods of publicans and pubs, the coalition Government has completely reneged on this and as you can all see, with the advertising of cheap lager and spirits on offer, these are threatening to close even more local pubs''. 

It's not all doom and gloom however and Steve added, ''Christmas in Rugby this year will be really exceptional in a lot of pubs as special seasonal ales from many of the top breweries will be available in Rugby and the suburbs . As Rugby is one of the best Midland towns for drinking there could be as many as over a 100 different real ales to be drunk over the Christmas period alone. Rugby's local breweries are all brewing special beers, Atomic has its 4.5abv pale Winter Ale, Wood Farm has its 4.2abv dark ruby Rucking Santa while Dowbridge has its national award winning Pretoria Porter . Christmas and New Year is usually a time to spend time with family and friends down at the local pub and we hope the people of Rugby keep up these true traditions at these special time.''