CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

CAMRA Community Pubs Week
16-23 February 2008

It's a frightening reality that at least 56 pubs are closing in Britain each month and early indications of new research being carried out by CAMRA suggest that this figure could actually be significantly higher. Worse still, the majority of these pubs are not high street chain bars or theme pubs, but community pubs, recognised by most people these days, as important community amenities. The local pub, after all, is often the heart of the community.

CAMRA has successfully run National Pubs Week for four years in an attempt to convince more people to visit more pubs more of the time. CAMRA members across the country have worked hard to promote pub-going in response to the growth in home drinking. Despite low supermarket prices, nothing can match the British pub for its service and atmosphere.

In light of the increased threats to community pubs CAMRA is changing the focus of its week of action to help raise the profile and importance of pubs in the community and encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to use community pubs more.

Community Pubs Week complements a range of CAMRA-led initiatives including the Community Pubs Foundation, launched in 2005 to support campaigns to save local public houses by offering assistance to community groups, as well as a whole range of local campaigns by CAMRA to save and promote community pubs.

Community Pubs Week celebrates and promotes all community pubs - not just village locals, but urban gems too.