Mine's a Pint Issue 44

We’re on the Trail Again
Since its start in 2002, our Real Ale Trail has
showcased over a hundred pubs from within our
branch, and a few from just outside. We have been
told by our regional and national contacts, that
it is the most successful CAMRA Ale Trail in the
country.
The number of pubs per trail has varied from
twelve in 2004 to 28 in the 2010 to 2012 period.
At its height, we printed 2,000 leaflets and had
seven to eight hundred of them returned for their
prizes. Of course, the most popular prize was
when completing the trail guaranteed you free
priority entry to the Beer & Cider Festival. Since
the festival regularly went to capacity and operated
a one-in-one-out policy, it was a very popular
benefit. We even had a group of beer-lovers travel
up from Wales to complete enough pubs to qualify
so that when they came to the festival, they were
guaranteed quick entry.
The original objective of the trail was to promote
the festival. In the first year you only had to visit
five of the fifteen pubs to get a free ticket to the
festival, drinking a pint – not a half – in each.
Ten pubs gave you a ticket, plus a glass and beer
tokens; while all fifteen gave you a weekend pass,
beer glass, and beer tokens! In 2003 the number
of pubs increased to eighteen, but with similar
rewards.
After many years of debate about the policy and
the practicalities of advance tickets, the festival
succeeded in engaging a suitable system, and the
unique benefit of completing the trail disappeared.
As was to be expected, the numbers completing
the trail dropped substantially, but it was so
well established in many people’s calendar, that
it continued to flourish. It was, after all, still a
good way of publicising the festival. It was also
recognised as a good way to encourage people
to visit pubs they might not otherwise go to, and
it does, of course, raise awareness of the need
to support pubs along with CAMRA’s other
objectives.
Mine’s A Pint
14
Organising the trail does take a considerable
amount of volunteers’ time and CAMRA’s money.
The printing of the leaflets and the coloured
stickers costs us nearly £500. The cost of the beer
tokens and t-shirts runs up a four-figure bill. We
have the draw prizes sponsored, but no income
other than where the deposit on leaflets goes
uncollected.
Now it’s onwards! The plans for the 2018 trail are
well underway. The format will be the same as last
year, though, after a couple of successful years of
including one pub just across our branch border,
we plan to up it to two. As always we will include
around a third to a half of pubs that weren’t on
the previous trail and a few that have never been
on the trail. Which pubs are in – well you’ll have
to wait and see. Check out our Facebook page -
Reading Ale Trail - and for more information
about the trail, the rules, and the reasons, go to
the branch webpage - www.readingcamra.org.uk/
aletrail There’s much to be done before it starts on
Saturday 10th February. So put that date in your
diary and be ready to hit the trail.
Brian Jones