24 February 2010
By Tim Hampson
MORE than 25 pubs have already been signed up to
CAMRA's new national, real ale discount scheme, which was successfully launched at the start of the year.
The initiative seeks to promote pubs offering discounts to members by providing participating pubs with free posters to help them publicise the discounts.
The move follows the success of the £20 JD Wetherspoon money-off vouchers for members, introduced in November 2008.
The scheme is designed to support other community pubs in a similar way, many of which may already offer a discount to members.
“Unfortunately these discounts are not always clearly promoted and pubs do not get as many members through the door as they possibly could,” said CAMRA's senior press and marketing manager Tony Jerome.
“The main thinking behind the scheme is to help drive more trade to real ale community pubs and in return our members would receive a small discount on the beer they buy,” said Tony.
“This scheme hopes to unify these discounts for people showing their membership card. We have designed some free posters that will allow pubs to promote the discounts. This will mean more members will benefit from the discounts, increase trade and hopefully see more people joining CAMRA. The posters have spaces for the pub to write in what discount they are offering to members on pints and half pints.
“This discount is at the discretion of the pub and can be as little or as large as the licensee feels suits the business,” said Tony.
There is also a space on the posters for pubs to add any terms and conditions or additional discounts on things such as accommodation or food that the pub may want to offer.
To keep control on the scheme only the licensee and a branch official - who must get the licensee's approval - can sign up pubs.
Once the scheme is up and running an online database of participating pubs is planned.
However Tony stressed that “participation in the scheme will not influence the decision” to include pubs in any local or national guides.