MacArthur sails into St Austell pub

Sailing heroine Ellen MacArthur celebrated her record breaking solo journey around the world with a slap-up meal at the Five Degrees West in Falmouth, a pub owned by the St Austell Brewery. St Austell head of marketing Jeremy Mitchell said MacArthur's team had used the pub while they waited for her return, and she was joined by around 50 of her "crew" for the meal on Tuesday.

Caffeine-based beer is rolled out

Anheuser-Busch has launched a new 6.6% abv beer in the US containing caffeine, guarana and ginseng. The beer, called Be, contains the equivalent of half a normal cup of coffee and comes in blackberry, raspberry and cherry flavours. Described as a "beer with something extra", it could be exported to Britain if sales go well.

Camra festival runs dry early

Real ale fans forced Campaign for Real Ale's national winter ales festival to close about three hours early after they drunk it dry ­ 25,000 pints were downed. The festival, held at the New Century House, Manchester, had more than 6,400 people passing through.

Hosts warned not to serve drunks

Scotland's top police officer, Tom Buchanan, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, launched a scathing attack on Scottish licensees reminding them it is an offence to serve intoxicated customers. He also criticised excessive promotions that turned streets into battlegrounds.

Pensioner barred for wearing cap

Pensioner John Lalor, 71, has been banned from his local for refusing to remove his flat cap. Lalor was told by staff at the Jolly Falstaff in Warrington no headwear was allowed in the pub as part of a crackdown on yobs who use caps to hide their faces from CCTV cameras.