Otley Brewing first Welsh brewery to back Fair Deal for Your Local

13-Jun-2013 - Last updated on 14-Jun-2013 at 07:52 GMT

Fair Deal for Your Local: the latest company to back it is Otley Brewing

Otley Brewing has become the first Welsh brewery to back the Fair Deal for Your Local (FDFL) campaign which aims to ensure the Government gives pubs a fair deal.

The initiative was launched last month by 10 leading trade bodies including the Campaign for Real Ale, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Forum of Private Businesses and licensees organisations.

The announcement comes days after the campaign went to Wales that included visits to the Welsh Assembly, a tied pub in Cardiff and the Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival.

FDYL is calling on other brewers to follow the example of Otley and register their support for greater access for Britain’s small brewers by signing up at www.fairdealforyourlocal.com.

Otley Brewing managing director Nick Otley said: “I think it's overdue that talented creative hard working brewers were allowed fair and easy access to market and a chance to build personal working relationships with landlords that have a passion for what we do.

“Pubcos have for too long tied the hands of both brewer and publican while taking a lion’s share of profits from the beers we produce. Highly inflated prices to the landlord are being passed on to the drinking public which is an added pressure to an already struggling industry.”

Greg Mulholland MP, co-ordinator of FDYL and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group added: “I am thrilled that the Fair Deal for Your Local campaign has earned the support of a micro-brewery as renowned as Otley—and also our first Welsh brewery. Their support for desire for the campaign is very notable and they join a growing Leeds of superb innovative smaller breweries who want and need better access to pubs.

“I would ask all microbreweries who wish to pledge their support to sign up to the campaign.”