Luckily I managed to join people up and down the country in toasting Her Madge and her amazing reign spanning 60 years in the life of the Great British Pub.
Pubs celebrated the Jubilee in a variety of diverse ways (plus, in the finest British tradition, a few republican licensees defiantly having a non-
commemoration of the occasion). Even the Daily Mail didn’t rant about the Government’s 1am special Jubilee opening hours, and the country certainly seemed to be behind the idea of raising a glass to QEII.
I was delighted to visit pubs up and down my constituency and was impressed at the energy and ingenuity with which licensees embraced the occasion. In Otley, all of the pubs renamed themselves to become the Queen Elizabeth. I was also impressed to see so many locals responding to that and raising a glass — including some of Jubilee-themed ale (I began the weekend with an excellent pint of WharfeBank Brewery’s ‘Cheers Ma’am’, brewed in my constituency).
However, such a weekend should not just be seen as a reason to sell — or eat and drink — more than usual. It should truly be a reason to remember who we are as a nation.
I don’t always agree with BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds, but here we definitely sang from the same songsheet. She said: “Here’s to a great Jubilee weekend for Britain’s pubs. When it comes to celebrating a great occasion, beer and pubs have so much to offer that says something special about being British.” I couldn’t have put it better myself.
We need to remember that we are only who we are due to history and what we have fought for. So monarchist, republican or anywhere in between, the Royal Family are central to our history and part of who we are as a nation. Similarly, the UK’s pubs, taverns and inns go back over centuries and are also part of what makes us British.
We need to remember, as we take down the bunting, to continue to fight to preserve and promote the best of British. If we want a real legacy from the Jubilee, it should be that every person who visited a pub over the weekend joins the campaigns to support and save them.
We may never see a Diamond Jubilee again, but next time we have a national celebration, let’s make sure we still have great pubs serving people up and down the land. Now for Euro 2012 and the Olympics!
Greg Mulholland MP is chair of the Parliamentary Save the Pub Group