“Real Ale trail has become ‘a monster’ according to CAMRA expert Bob Tomlinson”

Writing in the latest edition of Ale Talk, the real ale magazine of   Huddersfield Camra, editor Bob Tomlinson asks if the trail has now become an  out-of-control “monster”.

He pinpoints the moment the rot set in as 2009 when former Daily Telegraph  wine writer Oz Clarke and petrol-nut, James May of Top Gear fame, popularised  the trail on the BBC during “their drunken spree through Yorkshire in their  quest for the perfect pint.”

He said:

“What was once a leisurely rail pub crawl by real ale drinkers has  now become a frenetic and loutish day out on the lash by large groups of mainly  lager drinkers.”

The Transpennine Real Ale Trail began life as a godsend for ‘proper’ beer  lovers who still got a schoolboy thrill from travelling by rail.

Originally it began life at the King’s Head and the Head of Steam, both  adjacent to Huddersfield Railway Station and the Mecca of real ale, The Grove,  just a few minutes away.

Drinkers might then enjoy the hospitality of Slaithwaite hostelries, in  particular, the Swan at Crimble, the Commercial and the Wharfeside Inn. They  would move on then to various pubs at Marsden before disappearing through the  Diggle Tunnel and emerging at the popular Stalybridge buffet bar.

So far so harmless and numerous wives were grateful to see the backs of their  husbands during the week.

But it was not long before, inevitably, it all started to go horribly  wrong.

Tomlinson said:

“The Real Ale Trail appears to have been hijacked by stag and  hen parties often in fancy dress, birthday revellers and people old enough to  know better – all tanked up on cheap lager, wine and, alcopops.

“It is not uncommon to see grown men dressed as schoolgirls or as ‘Farmer  Giles’ types in flat caps, waxed jackets and green wellies.

“Even Batman and Robin, Superman, Spiderman, Billy Banana and his bunch have  been seen staggering around.

“Nobody wants to be a killjoy and stifle a fun day out but when it  deteriorates into drunkards invading old ladies’ houses, women and men urinating  in gardens, dumping half-filled pint glasses of lager onto station platforms  then it’s hard to see the fun in it.”

There have even been reports that some of the more inebriated drinkers have  been seen running across railway tracks at considerable risk to themselves.

Both West Yorkshire Police and British Transport Police have promised to make  dealing with ale trail revellers as one of their priorities for the  year.