[From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 27th May 2013]
LANDLORDS and brewers are putting the brakes on a railway pub crawl which has become a victim of its own success.
The Ale Trail from Manchester to Leeds via the Colne Valley, Huddersfield, Mirfield and Dewsbury, was set up four years ago so real ale drinkers could enjoy a quiet pint in a selection of the area’s best taverns.
But the trail has been ‘hijacked’ by hen, stag and other parties in search of alcoholic oblivion instead of good beer after the route appeared on the BBC’s Oz and James Drink to Britain, approximately four years ago.
On Saturdays, from noon until 8pm, participating pubs will not be serving lager, shots, spirit doubles or other tipples favoured by binge drinkers.
Fancy dress, as well as hen and stag parties, will be barred and large groups hoping for a drink will be urged to call the venues in advance.
Presenters Oz Clarke and James May visited several pubs on the line, including The West Riding in Dewsbury which has joined the Real Ale Trail Licensees (RATL) scheme.
RATL, comprising landlords and brewers from Stalybridge to Dewsbury, have decided to call time on the antisocial behaviour caused by binge drinkers on the trail.
The reason is that on Saturdays the quiet villages of Marsden and Slaithwaite have become a magnet for revellers.
Residents and businesses have complained about noise, intimidating behaviour, as well as urinating and vomiting in streets and front gardens.
Marsden resident Dorothy Lindley was shocked to find a drinker sitting in her living room last summer.
The group was set up by like-minded licensees and brewers including Jamie Lawson, who runs Ossett Brewery which owns The Riverhead pub in Marsden.
Mr Lawson believes social responsibility should come ahead of profits.
“We may take a hit on this financially but when you weigh up profits against the inconvenience we’d rather have a quiet life,” he said.
“The Riverhead is very much a community pub. The locals and villagers have been really supportive of us because we’ve been on their side.”
RATL hopes their scheme will help return the Ale Trail to a route for considerate real ale drinkers.
Mr Lawson added:
“We want the Real Ale Trail to go back to how it used to be which was a lovely route for people who respected what the trail was about.
“Unfortunately, it’s been hijacked.”
The scheme has been praised by police and train operators.
Martyn Guiver, head of crime management for Northern Rail, said:
“We hope the decline in binge drinking on the trail will, in turn, not only improve the experience for others but more importantly make our passengers and staff feel much safer when travelling on this route.”
Participating venues in Yorkshire are The Riverhead, Marsden; The Commercial, Slaithwaite; The King’s Head, Huddersfield; Navigation Tavern, Mirfield and the West Riding, Dewsbury.
But not all pubs have signed up to the scheme.
One pub owner, who did not wish to be named, said:
“I don’t think we’d join the scheme. We get a few customers on the Ale Trail but it doesn’t really affect us.”
Read more: Examiner http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2013/05/27/lager-ban-on-real-ale-trail-as-new-pub-group-says-enough-is-enough-86081-33388598/#ixzz2UWhUa2Mx
