Landlords to launch their own beer festival

JO POTTER

Oldham is to have its own charity fund raising beer festival this year thanks to a campaigning pub landlady.

Jo Potter is spearheading the launch of the event which will be held across key town centre pubs in March.

She has already recruited The Royal Oak at Rhodes Bank, The Three Crowns, Upsteps, Whittles and Jackson’s Pit to join the venture.

And now she in planning a meeting with landlords to decide on local charities which will benefit from the event which will take place from March 19 to March 26.

Jo (40), landlady of the Ashton Arms in Clegg Street, said: “I was absolutely determined that we should have this celebration. Everyone is very excited about the project.

“The idea is already snowballing and we are getting tremendous support from everyone who wants to be involved.”

And her efforts have been praised by Mike Robinson, a leading CAMRA official who had organised The Oldham Beer Festival since its inception 23 years ago.

He said: “Oldham’s town centre real ale pubs are to be congratulated for working together to help fill the void left by the cancellation of the CAMRA-organised beer festival at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

“This was caused when the council withdrew concessionary use of the venue by the Mayors Appeal Committee.”

Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, claimed the council were scrooges by pricing the traditional charity event, out of business.

He has written to council chief executive Charlie Parker demanding answers under the Freedom of Information act to issues regarding charges, bookings and hire of the hall.

Mr Woolas said today: “I am delighted town centre landlords have come together to organise a beer festival raise money for local charities.

“Oldham Council’s decision to price the annual beer festival out of the QE Hall is a disgrace.

The Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, is liaising with council chiefs and local charities to define details for the new event to form the centrepiece of his fundraising activities.