Ale fans raise their glasses to new beer venture in Cheltenham
IT'S time for ale fans to raise their glasses – Cheltenham has a new shop selling more than 500 varieties.
Brews from around the world will go on sale at Favourite Beers today.
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Cheers: Leigh Norwood who will run the new venture with his daughter Rosie
Businessman Leigh Norwood, from Charlton Kings, has pledged to offer the town's best range of ales to plug a gap in the market.
Leigh said: "I've been involved in beer for a few years and have run the Cheltenham Beer Festival, so I thought I would open my own shop.
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"I've always wanted to have my own beer shop. When I hit 50 I was bored with my job and all the politics involved, so decided to give it a go."
Leigh has given up a job as an aerospace and communications IT specialist to open the shop at the former Bottoms Up premises.
He plans to offer beers from Gloucestershire breweries Battledown, Festival, Prescott, Goffs, Stroud and Nailsworth.
The father-of-three, of Bafford Approach, says he will have 270 ales from the UK, 80 Belgian beers, 80 brews from the rest of the world and more than 100 ciders.
And the 50-year-old has pledged to have an "ever-changing" range.
His daughter Rosie, 20, will work alongside him at the shop.
Gloucestershire Campaign for Real Ale secretary Martin Parker said: "It's something we have needed round here for some time. To have a shop like that is welcome news and in the current climate I'm sure it will do well.
"Real ale is in the ascendancy at the moment and it's the only part of the pub sector that is growing and not shrinking.
"If he can do a really good range of quality, bottled beers that's all to the good."
Leigh has run Cheltenham Beer Festival in aid of the Samaritans for the past five years.
Last week The Cask Report 2010 revealed the real ale industry is booming.
In 2009, the value of the cask beer market increased by 5 per cent to £1.4 billion. For more details, visit www.favouritebeers.com.
Comments
by Steve, Cheltenham
Saturday, October 09 2010, 7:28PM
“Oh no! Not another off-licence. As if Cheltenham hasn't got enough.
It's impossible to go out without seeing empty bottles and cans littering the pavement (the cleansing department doesn't always pick them up - there's been a pile of broken glass in Grosvenor Place South for over 2 weeks now) or being threatened or actually assaulted by drunken youths on the street.
It would be nice to think this shop is going to cater for real ale connoisseurs who don't mind paying the extra for something special but, human nature being what it is, that just ain't gonna happen, is it?
It's just one more outlet for Fosters and Lambrini...”
by Nick, Gloucester
Saturday, October 09 2010, 12:27AM
“Ronan, don't forget these real-ale old farts can only measure themselves against the bilge-water that they drink. That and how many trains numbers they have collected.”
by H, The Chelt
Friday, October 08 2010, 10:01PM
“Beards, ronan, you forgot the beards.
As opposed to beardless boys with their Ribena-flavoured vodka and raspberry-tainted pretend cider.
;)”
by Hobgoblin, Cheltenham
Friday, October 08 2010, 8:59PM
“What's the matter lagerboy, afraid you might taste something??!”
by ronan, Gloucester
Friday, October 08 2010, 8:18PM
“Can't you read, H, The Chelt? Or is it simply that you can't comprehend? It is the so called "real" ale snobs that bore. The ale itself is just some stinky sludge to give the bores their gigantic lardy bellies and flatulence.”
by H, The Chelt
Friday, October 08 2010, 7:19PM
“Well, Danny and ronan, if you're bored by real ale, why did you bother reading, let alone commenting? Bet you're tasteless-lager-swillers or alcopop-kiddies :)
I for one will be certainly be a customer.”
by ronan, Gloucester
Friday, October 08 2010, 4:37PM
“Well said, Danny! Real ale bores need real ale in a sad attempt to feel like real men. :-)”
by Paul, Gloucester
Friday, October 08 2010, 1:56PM
“Great knews! Been waiting for this place to open since I saw an advery at the Postlip beer festival!
Will be off there on my way home from work tonight all being well! :)”
by Nobby, Gloucester
Friday, October 08 2010, 12:07PM
“I wonder if they give Tesco Clubcard points?”
by Phil, Kingsholm
Friday, October 08 2010, 12:05PM
“Danny, I would like to congratulate you on your sharp wit.
I will have to call over and have a browse. I doubt that they will be charging £1.00 a bottle like the supermarkets, but then again I doubt they will be selling the chemicals that pass for cider and lager either.”