Autumn Newsletter 2026
The next FoHB social will be held at The Royal Oak in Newton St. West Bromwich on Monday September 14th starting at 7.30pm. The October Social will be held at AJ’s brewery tap in Long Acre St Walsall, on Monday 12th October starting at 7.30pm.
Social Secretary wanted: the FoHB desperately needs a social secretary who will be able to research, plan and organise day outings by coach for up to 50 people. Help will be offered by the committee.. Secretary wanted: to attend committees and take minutes, write emails and deal with day to day paperwork, contact charities and other organisations, and maintain the archives. Please contact Bob Newton or Andrew Wells
The Peterborough trip was a rainy day success with £110 being raised on the coach raffle. Most people did the pub-
Wetherspoons have opened a branch at Alicante Airport, however it is rather small, but they are pressing on with developing pubs in both terminals at Barcelona now (with a combined seating capacity of 600) and will sell cask ale! All together now, “Una Paloma Wetherspoons – I go there drinking all day”
Ow Much? According to ‘Bionic’, the small business comparison site, there are significant regional disparities in pint prices across the UK. The cheapest was found in Bury at £2.50 followed by Burnley and Darlington at £3.00. Most expensive was Oxford (no surprise there Terry) at £6.75 followed by Brighton, London, Guildford, Reading, Basingstoke and Harlow at £6.50. The average price across the UK was £5.17 in 2025. The ‘Telegraph’ made a big thing about the £11 London pint but that was at the rooftop bar of the swanky Chesterfield Hotel in Mayfair, and who orders “a pint of swally” in a place like that? (Telegraph reporters on expenses)
Shepherd Neame has teamed up with fellow independent business Kent Crisps to launch ‘beef brisket and stout’ flavoured crisps. (Whatever next –aardvark and advocaat?)
Harveys Brewery has spent £1.5m converting the offices above the brewery shop in Lewes into eight boutique bedrooms for those wishing to stay in a brewery. Brewery tours are available as part of the package. The office staff have relocated to Harveys distribution site.
The ‘8-
St. Austell Brewery are raising a glass to their 175th anniversary with the launch of a special limited edition cask ale range, including several much loved favourites revived from the Brewery Archives. There is a new anniversary Ale called ‘1851’ as well.
The fortunes of Wrexham Football team have improved since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over. Now the couple are turning their attentions to the Wrexham Lager brand they bought last year. Planning applications for a new brewery, tap room, museum and visitor centre right next to the football ground have been submitted.
