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Thread: CAMRA Nonsense

  1. #1
    Humble Wordsmith ETA's Avatar
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    Default CAMRA Nonsense

    I was recently drinking in a very fine real ale pub in Maidstone, where the landlord informed me that he didn't want to be in GBG as he would 'have to give CAMRA members a 10% discount'. He claims this is what he has been told by a CAMRA member who showed him his membership card. Having done a few reviews for GBG myself, I am sure this is complete nonsense. I wrote to CAMRA head office to ask about this but have had no reply.

    Has anyone else heard of this kind of nonsense before, or has CAMRA taken things a step too far? Maybe it's just a rogue member? Anyone from Maidstone care to comment?

  2. #2
    Roving RAT ROBCamra's Avatar
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    It's total bollocks.

    Let's deal in a few facts.

    There are circa 4500 pubs in the GBG2015.

    At the latest count we have 1793 pubs giving a CAMRA discount on PuG.

    Many of the ones giving a discount aren't in the GBG.

    Therefore many of the ones in the GBG don't give a discount.

    Somebody is lying.

    Whether it's the CAMRA guy or the landlord who's making an excuse for his pub not selling good enough beer who knows.

    But it's still bollocks.
    A pub is for life not just for Christmas

  3. #3
    This Space For Hire gillhalfpint's Avatar
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    The only reason I have been given by a landlord for not wanting to be in the GBG was that the CAMRA branch started trying to tell him how they wanted things run.

    They liked using his pubs for meetings - that was fine - they liked the food he put on - that was ok with him - but they started bringing friends and family to the committee meetings and still expected all the free food which was not fine with him. He fell out with them over it and didn't get back in the GBG. He is happy with that.

    Agree with the above that CAMRA discount is not a given right but up to each landlord, and I have had it given in pubs not in GBG before.
    Alcohol doesn't solve problems .... but then again, neither does milk.

  4. #4
    Old & Bitter oldboots's Avatar
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    There are some CAMRA members who seem to believe a membership card gives them the right to a discount, and it's a fair bet that the campaign's membership would plummet if the Wetherspoons discount was removed, such is the parsimony of some.

    I suspect in this case one of the dickheads did approach the landlord but certainly wouldn't be acting with any kind of official sanction, the landlord of course is talking out his fundement in saying he would have to give a discount for GBG inclusion.

    Judging by the reaction when they don't get in the GBG most landlords are desperate to be in it, free publicity and all that.

    I would write to the Regional Director (details on the CAMRA website or What's Bruin) or a National Executive member.

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    This Space For Hire Rex_Rattus's Avatar
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    To add my two penn'orth - it's definitely nonsense. As ROB says, it's either a rogue member trying his luck, or sour grapes on the part of the landlord. It really would be something if all the GBG pubs in Maidstone gave a CAMRA discount; if they didn't, then the landlord in question would surely know that and in any case it would be easy enough to get an "official" CAMRA position from the local branch.

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    As Gill says, a lot of landlords get annoyed when customers tell them how to run their business. And annoyed doubled and vulnerable if they play the Camra card.

    As an example, which I've documented here before, This pub went from a POTY to expulsion from the GBG in short order thanks to the unreasonable nature of some local branch members.

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    It amazes me how any landlord who sells real ale is not aware of the criteria for entry to the GBG.Its free advertising and you will sell more beer.A couple of my local pubs were in every year and a fair amount of people mentioned they had only come to the pub because they were in the beer guide .

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    Quote Originally Posted by NickDavies View Post
    As Gill says, a lot of landlords get annoyed when customers tell them how to run their business. And annoyed doubled and vulnerable if they play the Camra card.

    As an example, which I've documented here before, This pub went from a POTY to expulsion from the GBG in short order thanks to the unreasonable nature of some local branch members.
    The thing is when alcohol is involve its easy for bar staff to piss off the customers and vice versa.

  9. #9
    Pub researcher (unpaid) rpadam's Avatar
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    Default Not Camra nonsense, just nonsense

    Quote Originally Posted by ETA View Post
    I was recently drinking in a very fine real ale pub in Maidstone, where the landlord informed me that he didn't want to be in GBG as he would 'have to give CAMRA members a 10% discount'. He claims this is what he has been told by a CAMRA member who showed him his membership card. Having done a few reviews for GBG myself, I am sure this is complete nonsense. I wrote to CAMRA head office to ask about this but have had no reply.

    Has anyone else heard of this kind of nonsense before, or has CAMRA taken things a step too far? Maybe it's just a rogue member? Anyone from Maidstone care to comment?
    All sounds like a thoroughly mixed can of Chinese-whispered red herring cobblers that one bloke-down-the-pub may (or, more likely, may not) have told another bloke-down-the-pub...

    Mind you, I've been into several Taylor Walker outlets asking for a 10% discount with my Camra card only to be told that there is no such offer (despite the offending staff member standing underneath one of the company's nice printed signs advertising the very thing!). Usually turns out they don't know what button to press on the till and are too embarrassed to admit it. No Taylor Walker outlet in Maidstone yet, though.

    On the other hand, you can get a whole 10p off a pint with a Camra card at the Flower Pot but I'm still not really sure whether that is a joke or not.

  10. #10
    This Space For Hire Wittenden's Avatar
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    I don't really "get" this discount business.(I'm not a CAMRA member,though could pass for one.)Do people really think that a landlord should subsidise the drinking habits of a small percentage of his customer base out of his pocket, or out of the pockets of his/hers non Camra regulars? I suppose in the case of a chain/pubco the organisation could finance this, but I'd be suprised if this was the case.
    Mrs Wittenden has a small plant nursery, and we get really pissed off when asked for a discount " for two" , as it means that people expect that we should reduce our margins just for them. Of course, we might well knock a bit off for regular customers buying large orders, in the same way as a guvnor might treat a regular.
    "At that moment I would have given a kingdom, not for champagne or hock and soda, or hot coffee but for a glass of beer" Marquess Curzon of Kedlestone, Viceroy of India.

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