The launch of the Berkshire south east branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) inaugural Wokingham Ale Trail will take place at the Queens Head, on The Terrace in Wokingham on Sunday, June 7.
Opening at noon, the ribbon will be cut and an introductory speech given at 1:30pm.
The Ale Trail will run from June 7 to July 12, and will be a self-guided walk around what is described as carefully selected participating pubs.
Kevin Lenton, chairman of Berkshire CAMTA, told Wokingham Today how it has been a very difficult time for pubs nationwide. Firstly, Covid had a big impact on people’s drinking habits and pub debts built-up during lockdown. Now there are extreme cost pressures facing the hospitality sector.
The tax burden, on top of energy, food and wage inflation, together with rising beer production costs that the brewers have to pass on to pubs has resulted in increases to the price of a pint.
He added that locally, the extensive and continuous road works for the development of the south Wokingham distributor road have impacted footfall in Wokingham.
“We ask the real ale drinkers of Berkshire and beyond to join the Ale Trail and support pubs that are often at the heart of urban communities.
“Clearly, showcasing the best real ale pubs will benefit them the most by creating a buzz and boosting their publicity.
“However, it is expected that some of the visitors brought in by the Ale Trail will take the opportunity to try other non-participating pubs, and indeed to give their trade to local shops and other businesses.
“We already know that other CAMRA branches in Berkshire will be represented, and for some people this might be their first time visiting Wokingham.”
The Ale Trail will be free to join for anyone.
Ale Trailers can simply visit pubs on the trail in any order, enjoy great real ale, explore the town, then collect their reward.
They will need a copy of the Ale Trail leaflet to collect their stickers from each of the nine pubs visited.
These will be available at the launch event, also as a pull-out from Issue 2 of the Pubs & Pints magazine, available free in pubs across Berkshire, or can be downloaded online, which will also provide further details on how it all works and provide latest updates before and during the Ale Trail.
Those attending the launch event will also have the opportunity to make new friends, and sample a one-off cask beer brewed specially for the occasion by award-winning brewery, Elusive Brewing.
