HOW ARE PUBS SELECTED ________________________________
It is often asked (including by Whitchurch licensees) how entries are selected. A small number seem to think there is kind of hidden secret movement perhaps tainted by backhanders and cronyism. Indeed one publican (not local) suggested the only way to be selected was to bribe with free beer or to stuff some notes in a brown envelope! That couldn't be further from the truth. So lets put some facts right on how LOCAL entries are selected.
Here is a selection of some of the Questions often asked.
CAN I PAY TO HAVE AN ENTRY?
Certainly not. That's a Big No No! CAMRA prides itself on its independence. Unlike some other Guides which ask for fees, the ONLY way to be listed is for the beer to be good and for customers to select entries. Selection is truly independent of the trade. It is customer led.
HOW MANY OUTLETS CAN BE SELECTED?
There is a limited number that can be entered - in the local area that is 24 out of around 280 outlets. The local area stretches from the Wiltshire border in the west to near Farnbrough in the west, up to the Berkshire border and down to just north of Winchester. The main centres include Basingstoke, Andover, Tadley, Stockbridge and of course Whitchurch. For volunteer members to select 24 pubs from that area is no mean task!
These 24 then become part of the national annual book of 4500 outlets and 880 pages. Any bigger just would be too cumbersome.
DOES IT MEAN THE BEER IS POOR IF THE OUTLET IS NOT LISTED?
Definitely not. Constraints on numbers mean only the top 24 are selected. Hopefully one day the book may move towards online availability. It is being looked at. A Sat-Nav version has just been released.
WHO SELECTS THE ENTRIES?
The selection is by customers who have an interest in good quality real ale and have joined CAMRA as a way of showing their support to keep a traditional product available. It is their book. These are 96,000 pub users who care about beer and its quality. All members can have input and anyone can join. You can join here: CAMRA
HOW ARE ENTRIES THEN SELECTED?
The North Hampshire area uses the CAMRA National Beer Scoring Scheme (NBSS) as the main basis for entry. This allows input of an assessment of beer enjoyed in any outlet - through a simple scoring system. As well as allowing local drinkers to input feedback it also allows visitors from outside the area to provide their views too. The more who contribute the more accurately the results reflect customer satisfaction.
Those who gain the highest scores get selected, subject to a few simple rules, like the pub must have been visited a certain number of times and that the licensee must have been there for a reasonable period of time. Here is the Scoring site: NATIONAL BEER SCORING
A PUB HAS BEEN DROPPED, WHY?
No entry is ever "dropped". Each year's selection starts from scratch and is completely independent from the previous.
SO WHAT OUTLETS IN WHITCHURCH ARE INCLUDED
The present Guide has three entries. This 2010 edition lists The White Hart, the Bell Inn and the Sports and Social Club. This is a high percentage compared to other areas. For example Andover only has two entries in the town, Overton one and Stockbridge none!
WHY ARE CLUBS SOMETIMES INCLUDED?
Simple. The Good Beer Guide is a guide to quality real ale. Clubs and even some off-licenses sell real ale.
HOW MANY 'BEER QUALITY SCORES' ARE SUBMITTED?
In the last year over 3000 scores on local beer quality were submitted locally. This is increasing.
I'M NOT IN THE GOOD BEER GUIDE - WHAT ELSE IS THERE?
In Whitchurch a totally FREE PUB GUIDE and this associated PUB GUIDE WEBSITE are produced as FREE support for local pubs. Whitchurch is presently the only place in North Hampshire with this free local initiative. This is at no cost to licensees and there is also the opportunity for FREE ADVERTISING of EVENTS. Contact is HERE CAMRA would like the local business community to support it.
"I DON'T SEE CAMRA MEMBERS IN MY PUB"
Oh how often is this heard! How do publicans know? There are 96,000 individual members (with numbers rapidly increasing) and as far is is known none of them have CAMRA tattooed on their forehead. They are ordinary people who simply like their real ales, all ages, sexes, professions, shapes and colours.
SO HOW CAN MY PUB GAIN HIGH SCORES?
Serve consistently good beers, provide a welcoming atmosphere and encourage input into the selection process. Encourage customers to join CAMRA and to participate in the selection process.
DON'T CAMRA MEMBERS HAVE A DUTY TO PROMOTE MY PUB?
Certainly Not. Just because someone supports CAMRA's aims by joining does NOT mean they have a duty to act as a marketing manager for the licenced trade. A very small minority of publicans say they feel let down as CAMRA does not promote them enough! As a consumer based volunteer organisation that is not CAMRA's role. Only the publican knows how to promote his or her own business.
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FURTHER INFORMATION
GOOD BEER GUIDE 2010: 888pp, ISBN 978-1-85249-266-3 Cover Price: £15.99 Copies can be purchased HERE
THE WHITCHURCH PUBS INCLUDED IN 2010 ARE:
The WHITE HART HOTEL, owned by Arkells Brewery, is a large historic coaching inn that offers fine beers, superb hospitality, accommodation, and excelelnt service from the independent family brewer. A variety of rooms and seating areas present a choice of atmosphere for the discerning drinker, from the popular public bar to the more intimate restaurant areas.
The BELL is a small and traditional two-bar community pub serving well-kept brews from Fullers, Goddards and Courage. Conversation and social 'banter' are the order of the day and the pub attracts a strong local following. Such traditional pubs are becoming harder to find as pub chains move in and remove the character from hostellries.
The WHITCHURCH SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB, arguably the best community facility the small town of Whitchurch offers, but tucked away on the southern fringes. The beer changes between regular well-kept 'guest beers' from smaller brewers. It is also the home of the annual Whitchurch Beer Festival. The Club also hosts many fine sports amenities as well as holding a wide range of events from cabarets and discos to business meetings and wedding receptions. Indoor and outdoor bowling, football, pub games and other good facilities are available.
