Real Ale Champ 2 :~) LocAle & Steve Westby

Following on from that stalwart real ale campaigner, Princess
Anne . . .
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?articleid=3D60380&dm_i=
=3D259818688
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Real Ale Campaigner of the Year crowned
23/04/2008
Steve Westby from Nottingham has been named the Campaign for Real
Ale=92s (Camra) first Real Ale Campaigner of the Year at its National
Members=92 Weekend & AGM.

Westby received the award for his hard work in creating and promoting
a new initiative called LocAle, which encourages pubs to serve at
least one real ale that is brewed within 20 miles.

The scheme was trialled in Nottingham and is set to for a national
rollout under Camra's guidance.

The idea for LocAle sprung from the Greene King takeover of Nottingham
based brewer Hardy & Hansons in 2006.

Although, Camra failed to halt the closure of the brewery, it was
suggested that it was environmentally better for people to drink local
ales =96 and the phrase Beer Miles was born.

This led to Westby coining the phrase LocAle. So far, over 70
Nottingham pubs have signed up to the scheme.

A similar initiative has been adopted in York, Isle of Wight and
Sheffield.

=93I dreamt up what became LocAle over a pint one evening whilst mulling
over the impact of the takeover and cynical closure of Nottingham's
last major brewer and it is pleasing that such a simple idea has
become so successful," said Westby.

Brett Laniosh, Camra=92s promotions and marketing director, added: "It
is amazing how such a simple idea will now help local pubs and
breweries and give consumers more local beers to try in pubs."
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Great idea too IMO - I must commend it to my local(e) branch.
cheers,
MikeMcG