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Roger Protz from the Morning Advertiser |
Real ale worries over Young’s move
The traditional brewers John Young have moved from their Wandsworth base leading some to wonder if a change in direction will follow
TWO key management changes at Young’s brewery, one as a result of death, the other through redundancy, raise questions about the merger of London’s oldest brewery and its move to Bedford
The drinks trade magazine Morning Advertiser reported three weeks ago that Young’s brewery had made former head of public relations Michael Hardman redundant.
This comes only six months after the death of Hardman’s mentor, John Young, long-term chairman of the family brewery in Wandsworth.
John Young (1921- 2006) was perhaps the leading industry figure in traditionally brewed ales, who fought a rearguard action against “chemical beer”.
Not only was he a key figure in the licensed beer trade, but also the firm he headed was in the industry’s vanguard in keeping real ale in London’s pubs.
He was known (and sometimes ridiculed) for keeping together a string of Shire horses symbolising both the firm and the standards he stood for. Twelve hundred people attended his memorial service at Southwark Cathedral in November.
A fortnight before Young’s death, the firm merged with Charles Wells of Bedford and ceased brewing at its site in Wandsworth.
Michael Hardman’s achievement in 27 years was to provide a link between the brewery and real ale consumers.
He was a tireless writer, speaker and advocate, not just for his own company, but for traditionally brewed beer.
He was both a founding figure in CamRA (Campaign for Real Ale) and an early editor of its annual Good Beer Guide.
Young’s desertion of London has raised questions about their commitment to traditional values.
Hardman, as a protégé of Young, played a crucial role in selling the merger and move to the brewery’s supporters.
Roger Protz, perhaps the country’s foremost writer on beer, noted in the Morning Advertiser that, “despite private reservations, it was almost entirely due to Michael’s tireless work that Young’s closure created little criticism”. But shortly after the move was successfully completed that he was made redundant.
Out of respect for Hardman, Protz initially held back from criticising the move.
Now that he is free of this constraint, we can expect stronger opinions all round. The issue for real ale lovers is that the Bedford-based combine is shifting its focus away from good beer to promoting pubs.
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