Raising a glass

THE woes of the pub trade, particularly in rural areas, have been well documented as increased taxes, soaring rents and competition from the supermarkets take a heavy toll.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Sep 2011, 07:00 BST

But for some able and willing to come up with imaginative ideas, there are opportunities to win new business and even thrive.

A report this week details real ale’s growing appeal to a new audience of younger drinkers which is offering a lifeline for pubs struggling to stay afloat as increasing numbers stock alternatives to big brands.

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The award-winning Ilkley Brewery is among those flourishing in the market and now it is taking this a step further by pairing its own brews with food, much like fine wines are matched with dishes.

Yorkshire has seen more real ales and new breweries launched than anywhere else in the last year, with hundreds of beers now in production in the region.

These small-scale businesses, rooted in their communities, are showing bigger breweries and the three major pub chains, which own more than half the pubs in the country, that innovation and great ideas tailored to local markets are a real recipe for success.

Related topics:Yorkshire