The summer that was has almost dimmed into the memory – and while most of us were pleased to experience a long spell of hot weather, it hasn’t been plain sailing for many of our pubs.
Those with a beer garden, a terrace or pavement area have benefitted enormously while shaded town venues prayed for rain to attract custom. More than one city-centre pub landlord could be heard muttering “roll on winter”.
No, we can’t please everyone. The schools are back, the evenings are getting gloomier earlier and we’re heading for the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. We’ve had our summer break and Cheers is back with a flourish, bringing you a wide range of pub and beer topics – with a dash of wine and a splash of vodka thrown in to keep the variety fresh.
We’re constantly amazed at pubs’ and brewers’ initiatives – take a Portuguese beer festival in one as an example (page 26). Rarely has a representation from this magazine been so impressed by the offering from a country not exactly known for brewing...
