Press cuttings
This page will show all recent comments and press coverage for our campaign. For the full articles, please see the relevant newspaper or online edition.
Real ale champion loses fight
THE sun is going down on a landlord who has made The Rising Sun, Epsom, a peaceful refuge for discerning drinkers.
Dave Roberts and wife Ruth have agreed to go on August 14 after standing firm against an order from new owners Young's Brewery that he stocks their beers and products and no others.
Mr Roberts' deal with former owners Punch Taverns allowed him to sell not only his own Pilgrim Ale - produced at his Pilgrim Brewery, West Street, Reigate - but also dozens of others from small independent breweries around the UK.
A former chairman of the Association of Independent Brewers, Mr Robert banned mass-produced brews.
They are subjected to such a rapid fermentation process they contain a high chemical content he believes is responsible for bad behaviour in those who drink large quantities of it.
And although fans of "The Riser" - who took a petition against Young's order to the company's Wandsworth brewery - have secured talks with bosses from the company over the future plans for the pub,neighbours are worried.
Read the rest of the Real ale champion loses fight article.
Traditional pub swizz
Interesting independent pubs may be few and far between these days, but many attract a lot of business - business that the brewery giants would like to get their hands on.
One such pub is the Rising Sun in Epsom, Surrey, currently a successful and hugely popular free house run by Dave and Ruth Roberts.
With their own microbrewery, Pilgrim Ales, a no smoking policy and imported bottled beers and ciders, the pub has been praised by the Campaign for Real Ale and attracts pub fans from all over the country as well as a loyal local crowd. Obviously all that business looked very appealing to the big breweries.
The locals started a "Save the Riser" campaign and have presented a 1,000-signature petition to Youngs. They also point out that Youngs may think they're grabbing a thriving business, but if they're getting rid of one of the main things that attract custom and driving out the publicans who made the pub into such a hit, in a few years time they'll have another dull chain pub on their hands.
Another of the same please, landlord... 'cos there isn't anything else available.
Beer battle comes to a head
PUB regulars are fighting a brewery giant that has called "time" on a landlord selling independently produced real ales.
Young's wants Dave Roberts, at The Rising Sun, in Epsom, to sell its beers only and has threatened to have him evicted.
The new owner, which paid £900,000 for the pub in Heathcote Road, says Dave and wife Ruth will be booted out unless they give in.
A spokesman said this week: "If he doesn't do as we ask then we have no choice. It is our beer or else."
Read the rest of the Beer battle comes to a head article.
Row brewing over exotic beer sales
Regulars 'distraught' as brewery threatens to boot out landlord
A bitter row between a landlord in Epsom and the brewery giant Young's is coming to a head over the sale of exotic beers.
In the battle of David Roberts versus the brewing Goliath there may be several rounds to come. Yesterday Rising Sun regulars descended on the Young's site in Wandsworth to submit a petition with more than 1,000 signatures to Steven Goodyear, the chief executive officer.
However, Young's was unimpressed by the weight of public support, saying Mr Roberts had run one of the last free houses in England only by operating illegally.
A spokesman added:
We spent £900,000 to buy this pub and we haven't bought it to sell other peoples beer. If people don't like it, they can drink somewhere else.
We have 210 pubs, and have never before come across a case where someone has refused to comply with our conditions. We have bent over backwards to accommodate this landlord.
Statement by David Roberts in reply to Epsom Guardian article
The Epsom Guardian article contains a quote from a Young's spokesman. It is grossly misleading and largely incorrect.
The situation between Young's and myself is very simple. Young's and Co have recently bought the freehold to the Rising Sun. I have held a lease since 1999 which allowed me to sell whatever products I wished. This enabled me to provide customers with a very wide range of high quality beers.
Young's withdrew my right to purchase freely within 24 hours of buying the pub.
The spokesman said that they paid £900k for the pub. This is highly unlikely; not only is the pub not worth that but it was sold a matter of months before Young's bought it for £550k. The likely purchase price is £650k although as they acquired it in a group purchase the total cost is likely to have been for all five pubs together. They have not recorded the purchase or price with the Land Registry as is required by law.
I have not refused to comply with the company's conditions but I have, because I have traded "free of tie" almost 7 years, negotiated a short period to make the transition. In any case Young's and I would have to agree a new rent before their "conditions" apply. They have indicated what they believe a new rent should be and I have concluded that it the pub will not be financially viable under that regime. I have no choice but to leave and have told them this.
Young's have bought the pub without knowing the turnover of the business nor the quantity of beer sold. If they insist on putting beers in the pub that are commonly available then part of the attraction of the pub would be lost and the turnover would therefore diminish. I am not, as has been suggested, being evicted.
Furthermore I am not, as the spokesman said, operating illegally.
If anybody wishes to clarify matters with me please feel free to contact me at the pub on 01372 740809 or by e-mail on Dave@Pilgrim.co.uk
Back to home page...