The Campaign for Real Ale have published a major report on the state of the British beer trade and market. I’ll post on that separately. One key point is that the vast majority of beer drunk in the UK is brewed by global big beer companies. While there is rising demand for the beers of independent UK based and owned breweries their access to market- that is can you find them on the bar in a pub is seriously restricted by the financial clout of the global brewers.
Part of the report is a test about whether the ‘craft’ beer you are drinking really is independently produced or in fact owned by a global beer company. If its the latter, they don’t shout about it of course
Trousers cultists, those who demand that people must wear trousers at work are losing the battle.
The latest YouGov poll shows a high sixties percentage of respondents who think shorts are ok.
The Beard Liberation Front has a long standing policy that people should be able to dress and appear as they want. There are parameters. If a job requires a formal and smart dress then clearly beach shorts are not appropriate for example.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, we have no issue with people who prefer to wear trousers even in the hottest weather. Where we do have an issue is with trousers cultists who demand that people where trousers even if they prefer and feel more comfortable in shorts. Victorian dress codes are history.,
Lunch with the Financial Times is a long running feature in the Saturday edition of the paper. The 2016 lunch with Nigel Farage (which last time I checked was free to access) is a classic.
On July 4th it was Morgan McSweeney’s turn. Usually the feature draws out some interesting thoughts but its McSweeney so it doesnt.
However the location for the lunch was of interest. Its fair to say that the FT does not usually go looking for lunch in Tottenham. However McSweeney’s chosen venue was the Elmhurst Pub, Lordship Lane, N17. Owned by Heineken Stars and Bars, its a nice pub architecture wise but drinks wise it was not worth a visit. It’s about 10 minutes walk from my Tottenham abode.
McSweeney arrived in London aged 17 in 1994 and worked at the Elmhurst, living in the flat above. While he is not noted for a close relationship with the truth he is correct to say that the pub has gone considerably upmarket. A chef is in residence and special food menus are a regular. Not however on the day the FT is there so they have to fall back on ordering Yard Sale pizzas, familiar to any north-east London reader of this post.
McSweeney went to the relatively nearby Middlesex Poly (now University)and became associated in the New Labour years with Barking and Dagenham (Fords at Dagenham was a major source of employment for Tottenham people).
Not mentioned in the FT article but relevant is that McSweeney was living in Tottenham in the Bernie Grant era, something that can hardly have failed to make an impression on anyone who was however vaguely on the left.
Further on in the piece McSweeney denies that he had anything to do with Sue Gray’s departure from Downing St seemingly unaware of another Tottenham angle. Ms Gray was born and brought up in Tottenham and her late mother worked the bar at the Oakdale pub in Hermitage Rd (south rather than central Tottenham)which sadly no longer exists.
2027 will mark Haringey as a Rebel Borough (not entirely without foundation) so perhaps its time for a McSweeney plaque at the Elmhurst..
Thomas Tuchel during the Mexico v England game on 5/6th July 2026
Beard Liberation Front
6th July
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that for England to beat Norway in a World Cup Quarter Final on 11th July, England manager Thomas Tuchel must urgently implement a policy of managerial Beard Power.
The campaigners say that Tuchel has been inconsistent during the World Cup from June 17th in being clean shaven (as he was for the Mexico game, having stubble and sometimes a modest beard.
In Erling Haaland Norway have one of the most clean shaven players of the World Cup, while England have in Harry Kane a leading contender for the Golden Beard of the tournament.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, Thomas Tuchel needs managerial Beard Power against Norway. He cannot hope to shave Erling Haaland.
Murdoch’s S*n seems a bit lacklustre these days compared to his New York paper.
Suffice to say that while it is good news that Democratic Socialists of America are getting support a Trotskyist takeover of the Democratic Party may be some way off yet….
The Observer obituary of Humphrey Smith (5th July 2026) takes a more balanced view than the recent Times Obit. While not ignoring the substantial downsides, it also suggests that Smith’s model of the perfect pub may have a place even, or perhaps particularly in 2026.
It’s just as well that the Archers is audio only. Brian Aldridge in his latest crime against humanity as ordered Ed to dump a load of manure adjacent to Spiritual Home and Kate’s cottage. Fresh country smells abound it seems but it’s also surely a metaphor that Brian’s activities stink in other ways.
Amber, George & the Gordons
The Gordons, or at least Ann-Marie are at work engineering a split between Amber and George. Amber knows what her parents are like. George is finding out. Will he be resolute enough to deal with this invasion of the middle classes from Sarf London.
George & Keira
Keira, at last having found her BBC voice, is making an important contribution. After the intervention of ACAS, (aka Neil) George has at last understood how to relate to Keira in an adult way and she is thinking if that is enough.
First the Professor now Adam
The Professor is off touring Europe never it seems to return. Now Adam is contemplating market garden locations far away from Ambridge, although probably not as far as Hungary with Debbie
Martyn Gibson is back
Martyn wanted Ed to inform on Brian. Ed has proletarian principles ‘you’re trying to buy me’ Neil has backed him. Meanwhile, Gibson was quite unable to intervene in the sewage spill at Bridge Farm but he has got Borchester Water to irrigate the dry ground at the Borchester Show. Not to be trusted, ever.
James Joyce
The Professor has sent a postcard from Paris. James Joyce’s Ulysses was mentioned but the BBC did not report if Ambridge had marked Bloomsday
