'Traditional pub signs in steep decline'

The painted pub sign, one of the oldest popular visual arts traditions in Britain, is locked in decline. That is the fear of conservationists who hope to alert pub chains and breweries to a 'catastrophic' loss of the traditional skills involved and a failure to preserve a heritage that dates back to Roman times. The growing corporate ownership of public houses across the British Isles has led to the decline and the situation has worsened in the past five years because of the increasing number of pub closures. - Observer​

A potent Orcadian beer called 'Skull Splitter' could be withdrawn from sale following claims its Viking-branded bottles have too aggressive a theme. The Orkney Brewery, which has produced the award-winning 8.5 per cent proof ale on the island located north of John O'Groats for two decades, said it was 'stunned' by the threat, which follows a report commissioned by the alcohol watchdog the Portman Group. The beer is named after Thorfinn 'Hausakluif' Einarsson, a 10th Century Viking. 'Hausakluif' is Norse for skull-splitter. Apparently. - Observer​