Tuesday, 10 February 2009

Pub Surveys


Now this isn't my favourite bit of being an active CAMRA member, though it does give me as Branch Chairman, a much needed chance to talk to more licensees. I had five to survey this year and did two at lunchtime. Both were fully up to snuff I am happy to say and well deserved of their GBG nominations. I rarely have a drink on these visits, as I'm driving, but today, a pint of Lees Brewer's Dark was luscious with chocolate and roast malt notes, while Holt's Mild was full bodied, quite bitter for the style, with a dry finish. Two lovely and contrasting local milds. Grand.

I suppose surveying does have its compensations.
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8 comments:

  1. Neville Grundy10 February 2009 at 17:17

    I'm glad you avoided the cliché: "it's a lousy job but..." etc. But I'm wondering what you're surveying if you rarely have a drink on these visits?

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  2. Tandleman10 February 2009 at 23:30

    RedNev. You haven't done any surveys have you? You are checking facts such as opening hours, phone numbers, features, food times and all the things that go to make a GBG entry. Plus very importantly that there is no contravention of CAMRA policy such as misleading dispense.

    The quality bit has already been done and voted on.

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  3. Neville Grundy11 February 2009 at 01:31

    Actually I have, years ago, but some of your other readers will not have done. You seem to be slightly irritated by a simple enquiry, one that may well have crossed the mind of a non-CAMRA person.

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  4. Tandleman11 February 2009 at 08:33

    RedNev - It was meant tongue in cheek. Sorry if it came across otherwise. I take your point.

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  5. ChrisM11 February 2009 at 15:49

    That's interesting... in our branch all the surveys are done before the selection meeting, including the beer quality. We have a final bus trip into Northumberland this weekend to squeeze in another 10 pubs before the selection meeting on Monday!

    And yes, Holt's Mild and Lees' Mild are both fantastic beers.

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  6. Anonymous11 February 2009 at 20:10

    Ever stopped to consider how self-important you are? You're casting judgement on real people's businesses as if you have a god given right, yet you don't accept criticism

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  7. Tandleman11 February 2009 at 23:25

    In what sense.Please elaborate.

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  8. Anonymous12 February 2009 at 00:34

    As a drinker I often read the local CAMRA websites and ask people about good places to drink when I go to a new town as otherwise people will end up drinking in dodgy pubs serving iffy beer that aren't deserving of their custom.

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