National Pubs Week gaining support

National Pubs Week promotional kits are in high demand with 11,000 already distributed across the country.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), organiser of the week, which takes place between February 21 to 28 has confirmed this far outstrips numbers from last year.

Trade partners for National Pubs Week Charles Wells and Fullers' are stepping up their involvement in the event, with public speaking committees, head brewers and local ghost story authors, all getting involved in making the week a success.

The Chiswick-based brewer Fullers' has struck up an agreement with The Simpleton's Club, a group dedicated to improving public speaking skills, to hold a special debate on February 26 called "The Role of the Pub in British Society" in honour of National Pubs Week at the Victoria pub in Paddington.

The day before that, Fullers' head brewer John Keeling will be holding the latest of his Head Brewer's Roadshows at the Ash Tree in Ashford, Middlesex, where there will be a tasting of all Fullers' beers.

Bedford's own Charles Wells has organised a series of events in towns around the county.

For example, the Crosskeys in Pulloxhill, near Bedford and Queens Head in Ampthill, are taking part in a two-night experience called Ghost & Ale, which for a total of £16 each over the two nights includes dinner and ghost story night on the first evening, followed by a haunted walk through a local forest, with flaming torches for company.

These events are examples of what you as a local pub or pub company can do to make what is a slow time of year for the pub trade more interesting and hopefully more profitable.

For more information and for marketing packs call 01727 867201 to make your order, or order online at www.camra.org.uk/pubsweek.