I had an idea…

…not an original one, but might be interesting.

In the old days when Shepherd Neame liked owning local pubs, they issued cards and every time you visited one of their pubs you had it stamped, with a prize for completing it.

There are maybe 25 pubs walkable in my town. Get as many local pubs as possible on board. Would need a sponsor to provide prizes such as a T-shirt; maybe a local brewery wanting to advertise.

If you completed it, along with your prize you get another card with another couple of dozen pubs reachable by public transport, and another prize.

Probably more reasons it wouldn’t work than would. But might be a small boost to the local pub trade.

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Originally Posted by Sparkplug

…not an original one, but might be interesting.

In the old days when Shepherd Neame liked owning local pubs, they issued cards and every time you visited one of their pubs you had it stamped, with a prize for completing it.

There are maybe 25 pubs walkable in my town. Get as many local pubs as possible on board. Would need a sponsor to provide prizes such as a T-shirt; maybe a local brewery wanting to advertise.

If you completed it, along with your prize you get another card with another couple of dozen pubs reachable by public transport, and another prize.

Probably more reasons it wouldn’t work than would. But might be a small boost to the local pub trade.

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Shepheard Neame have loyalty card on the go at the moment, although I think it only applies at their managed houses?

Anyway, these kind of schemes can work sometimes, so I suppose it relies on who will run it, how they will run it, and exactly what the businesses and their customers will get out of it?

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Originally Posted by rpadam

Shepheard Neame have loyalty card on the go at the moment, although I think it only applies at their managed houses?

Anyway, these kind of schemes can work sometimes, so I suppose it relies on who will run it, how they will run it, and exactly what the businesses and their customers will get out of it?

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On the go now. Reading Ale Trail.

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Originally Posted by Mobyduck

On the go now. Reading Ale Trail.

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Familiar face in the photo !

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Originally Posted by Sparkplug

…not an original one, but might be interesting.

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Firkin pubs used to do this and it was in operation by - I think - at least the late '80s, the reward being a T-shirt for getting a card with a stamp from each venue. As I recall, all were in London at the time except for one in Birmingham, which made it tricky and I think all-day drinking had yet to return, the object being to do the whole lot in one day to qualify.

Somerset CAMRA did it up to 2019, there was one planned for 2020 but the Woo Flu lockdown killed it off, and they haven't had the enthusiasm to rekindle it. Shame as I'm now running out of polo shirts.

Brakspear do the same thing with their 10 pubs in Henley.

Henley Ale Trail

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Originally Posted by Komakino

Brakspear do the same thing with their 10 pubs in Henley.

Henley Ale Trail

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That seems to require drinking a lot of Gravity or Oxford Gold! :sick:

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Originally Posted by Mobyduck

That seems to require drinking a lot of Gravity or Oxford Gold! :sick:

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Yeah, that is the only downside ;)

Yes Breakspear and Henley.Beautifull little town and one of the few places I have said.Yippee they have a Wetherspoons.

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Originally Posted by Bucking Fastard

Familiar face in the photo !

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Yes. That bear gets into all the photos!:p

I did the annual Shepherd Neame 'Passport' for many years - traditionally finished off with a pre-Xmas bash round Faversham. Other assorted brewery trails I have done over the years include Brakspears, Charrington, Friary Meux, Fullers and Gales, plus sundry others that I have long since forgotten about. I still have various ties, T-shirts, tankards and other junk. Always in favour of getting a reward for something I would have been doing anyway.

The worst one was the Charrington IPA trail, where the top prize was 50 free pints - the last thing you wanted having done 200 (I think) of their pubs!!

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Originally Posted by Mobyduck

On the go now. Reading Ale Trail.

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Just the Nag's Head.

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Originally Posted by Tris39

Just the Nag's Head.

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If we're doing the list thing then 17 of those, just missing a few outliers, I confidantly predict Quinnos done the lot.

Black Country Ales do an Ale Trail every year. https://www.blackcountryales.co.uk/

This one has just started , runs for 3 months - get a stamp at any 25 of the 47 pubs for a Polo shirt and a case of beer.

Ashamed to say I've never attempted it!

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Originally Posted by Mobyduck

If we're doing the list thing then 17 of those, just missing a few outliers, I confidantly predict Quinnos done the lot.

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Have checked my notes and I've done all bar the George & Dragon in Swallowfield, which, considering who now runs it, sounds like it'd be a good one to do, albeit reading your review, it sounds like your visit seemed a cross between calamitous and disappointing.

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Originally Posted by Komakino

Have checked my notes and I've done all bar the George & Dragon in Swallowfield, which, considering who now runs it, sounds like it'd be a good one to do, albeit reading your review, it sounds like your visit seemed a cross between calamitous and disappointing.

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Disappointing certainly, hopefully a one off
and is now sorted, will probably have another look at some point this year.

We did Black Country Ales trail for the first time last year visiting 25 of their 44 pubs and we each got a polo shirt and a case of 12 bottles of their beer.

Currently part way through this years trail which is 25 of their 47 pubs. Runs from 1st March to 31st May 23 and we have been trying to get to their pubs outside of our area. Shrewsbury, Newport, Burton, Leicester, Rugby. Worcester, Hereford and Tenbury Wells.

Fun thing to do.

Gill

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Originally Posted by gillhalfpint

We did Black Country Ales trail for the first time last year visiting 25 of their 44 pubs and we each got a polo shirt and a case of 12 bottles of their beer.

Currently part way through this years trail which is 25 of their 47 pubs. Runs from 1st March to 31st May 23 and we have been trying to get to their pubs outside of our area. Shrewsbury, Newport, Burton, Leicester, Rugby. Worcester, Hereford and Tenbury Wells.

Fun thing to do.

Gill

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Got my second stamp today in the Real Ale Tavern Bewdley! Doubt I'll get anywhere near the 25 with a month already gone but I will be in Worcester on Friday so I'll get the Imperial Tavern done.