Nice to see my magazine got a head start on something that has become a national campaign 😉

I ran a feature in the January issue about The King and Queen pub in Longcot, Oxon. Having been empty for several months a new and enthusiastic landlady had taken over the lease and ploughed her life savings into the pub. Pubco Punch Taverns made her all sorts of promises about support and investment but it wasn’t forthcoming and less than 6 months after opening, they put the pub up for sale and gave her 30 days notice. Broken hearted, she shut up shop and moved out before the deadline, leaving the village publess. Fortunately another brave soul, Ian “Smithy” Smith has taken over the lease but on terms that give him only 7 days notice to leave if a buyer is found. It’s a crazy situation, especially as this pub is the only one in a village with no shop, post office or community centre. (For full details see the Feb and March issues of Community Times in The Vale magazine.)

So when I came across the Axe the Beer Tax website I could hardly not respond. This site is campaigning for government to reduce the tax on beer in order to encourage more people to make the most of their local rather than staying in with a supermarket can. Fill in your postcode and the site will generate an email to your local MP. I’ve done my bit and sent an email, though I’m pleased to say that my MP, Ed Vaizey, is already on the case – look out for his column in the April issue of CT In the Vale!