Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Hull & East Yorkshire Branch NEWS RELEASE

Tenants of "Oasis in Real Ale Desert" are Chosen for Seasonal Award

Issued 23rd April 2005

Keith French and Michaela Thurston, tenants of ‘The Falcon’ in east Hull have been chosen to receive the Spring 2005 ‘Pub Mirror Award’ for “Continuing Commitment to Quality Real Ale”.

The seasonal awards are currently being used to recognise those licensees in the Hull and East Yorkshire area who have demonstrated a "Continuing Commitment to Quality Real Ale" at a time when they are under great pressure to remove distinctive, tasty real ale and replace it with ‘easily kept’ heavily advertised, bland tasting nitro-keg beers. The award therefore, also acknowledges those licensees who practise the specialised art of cellermanship. This is because real ale requires expertise to prepare and maintain it in good condition whereas nitro-keg beer only requires connecting to a mixed-gas cylinder before selling.

Keith and Michaela took on the pub’s lease three years ago having managed it from November 2001. It is very much a community pub and is situated on Falkland Road on the Greatfield Estate in east Hull. It was their first venture in the trade – apparently Keith fancied a career change! He was keen to introduce real ale as soon as possible and started selling John Smith’s Bitter, then when he became a tenant he thought he would give the guest beers a try. Enterprise Inns, the pub’s owners, initially advised him against it because of its location on an out-lying estate. However, Keith proved them wrong and they are now very supportive of his efforts.

East Hull is not renowned for its real ale and the Falcon has fast become known as “an oasis in a real ale desert.” Thanks to Keith and Michaela, discerning drinkers in the area presently have a choice of Lees Bitter and three regularly changing guest beers that are obtained through SIBA (Small Independent Breweries Association). Keith is hoping that in July he will be able to obtain beers from an even greater number of breweries when his company issues a new improved list.

The pubs opening hours are: Monday to Saturday 11-11 and Sunday 12-10.30.

The award will be presented to Keith and Michaela by CAMRA Branch Chairman, Alan Canvess tomorrow lunchtime (Sunday 24th) at around 1.45 p.m. A large gathering of the pub’s regular customers and CAMRA members are expected to attend the presentation. Amongst them will be Chris Robertson, a local active CAMRA member who nominated them for the award, stating “They deserve the award for offering their customers choice and quality at reasonable prices.”