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September 2007 One of the questions I am frequently asked whilst delivering Ale Cry is ‘Do we get a mention?’ and more often than not the answer is ‘not this time’. Then occasionally follows ‘How do we get a mention?’ The obvious answer is to advertise with us but if everyone did that branch members would be getting bad backs from carrying the newsletter from the chauffeur driven limos to the pub because it would be about 100 pages a copy. So how do you achieve column space in this publication? 1) Through the regular Preston Prowling, South Ribble Stroll and Chorley Chatter columns we try to report change of licensees, pubs newly selling/ no longer selling real ale and general pub news from our area. If we should be mentioning your pub, let us know what s newsworthy. 2) Each issue for the past couple of years we have been featuring a ‘classic pub’ which has done great service for real ale over the years. You never know, you could be next. 3) Whilst waiting for a friend in London a couple of years ago, I passed the time by reading the London Drinker newsletter. In this was a quiz page which kept my interest for a while. I enjoyed it so much I stole the idea and created Pint Ponderers. This quiz page has been sponsored by various outlets since it began giving away a selection of prizes. In my opinion, a very entertaining way of advertising. 4) Similar to a quiz page, if you consider your pub to have quality food, get your chef to produce a good recipe for a meal involving ale (braised steak with Lees Moonraker for example). A recipe page with an acknowledgement of your chef’s skill. 5) Write a letter. Unless it is a shameless attempt to plug your local, we print just about all letters we get. Some people have even had letters of complaint about me printed! 6) Send freebies! Occasionally we will be given a book to review etc. Note: Free stuff should be sent to the same address as quiz entries. 7) Win Pub of the Season. Something everyone who has a pub (and who cares about ale) should aspire to. You get a certificate, article in Ale Cry, often local press coverage and a presentation evening where plenty of ale is supped. As is evident from above, if you care about real ale, an appearance in black and white in the pages in Ale Cry is never far away. I have even had the odd (or perhaps I should say occasional) student working behind a bar asking if they could write an article as part of their course work. Of course, please do! Write about your perception of CAMRA or your view of the pub from the other side of the bar. Anything you think the casual reader may find of interest. So there we have the bottom line. If you want to see your name in print in Ale Cry, write an article about anything beery. Any idiot can do it! J Mark Ashton
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