CAMRA promises cash to boost museum bid

Hopes of transforming the under-threat Coors Visitor Centre into a national brewing museum have been boosted thanks to the promise of a "significant" donation.

The famous Burton-based visitor centre, formerly the Bass Brewery Museum, shut down in June due to plummeting visitor numbers.

But a bid to turn the centre into a national museum, led by Burton MP Janet Dean, is now gathering steam.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) last week promised to donate the proceeds from the upcoming Burton Beer Festival, which should be "significant", to the new venture.

And the consumer group is also urging brewers and pub companies to help out with the rescue package.

Nik Antona, CAMRA's Burton and South Derbyshire regional director, said: "It is hoped big brewers and pub companies will see the logic in joining in and supporting the establishment of a national brewing museum.

"Renowned brewing nations such as Belgium, Poland and Denmark all have brewing museums, the Czech Republic even has two, therefore how can we sit alongside these revered nations without a monument of our own?"

Plans for the formation of a school of brewing at the site have also been touted and licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe has previously promised government cash would be available to support any possible project.

Coors has agreed to listen to offers if funding can be found by the end of the year.

The brewer has also agreed to offer the premises at a nominal rent and provide £100,000 funding per year for the project.

Antona added: "There have been many brewers rumoured to be considering support for the plans, and I think it must be stressed that this museum will celebrate the history of British brewing as a whole, and not just Bass and Coors as some have suggested."