First ever Maidenhead Ale Trail gives pubs 'a chance to show off', says new chairman

The first ale trail in Maidenhead has been launched by the new chairman of the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Pub Protection Officer for the Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead branch, Mark Newcombe, has always been ‘very concerned about pubs closing’.

He has been a CAMRA member since ‘The Golden Harp days’ when campaigners fought to keep the Furze Platt site a pub when the lease was bought by Tesco in 2012.

Mark also played an instrumental role in saving the popular community pub, The Craufurd Arms, and campaigned to protect the Boundary Arms in 2023 as vice chair of the Friends of the Boundary Arms Committee.

“I've been a real late ale drinker since I was 18, so it's something I've always enjoyed,” he told the Advertiser, adding that an ale trail had been on his mind ‘for a long time’.

“You can't really buy real ale in bottles or cans. It's something that's still alive in the barrels, so that's one of the reasons we need pubs.”

Having attended the more ‘established’ ale trail in Reading earlier this year, he had ‘broached’ the idea with management at The Maiden’s Head in King Street and The Crauford Arms in Gringer Hill.

“They seem to think it would be a good idea, and it's just taking a couple of months to get stuff in order and get the right contacts,” said Mark.

After seeing ‘a good turnout’ at the launch event at The Crauford Arms on Sunday, Mark said they have seen the CAMRA Angle branch magazines ‘flying out’ of local venues.

This is coupled with a ‘very positive response’ to the pamphlets, which is ‘all very exciting’, said Mark.

“It's important that we keep our pubs alive, and it's important that people use them,” he said.

“It’s technically a quiet time after summer, and it builds up again at Christmas, hopefully with Christmas parties, and then January and February are terrible as well.

“The hospitality trade is really suffering. Pubs are really struggling at the moment due to the national wage increases and energy prices.

“What they should be doing is getting parity with the VAT with supermarkets. It's an unfair playing field.”

Eight pubs are included in the inaugural Maidenhead Ale Trail – selected for being in the Good Beer Guide or selling at least two real ales on their hand pumps – but Mark is ‘very keen to expand it’ beyond central Maidenhead next time.

“Because it's the first one we thought would keep it quite small. Hopefully, next year, if it’s successful, we’ll add a few more pubs in the outlying areas like Holyport and Littlewick Green. That would be the idea,” Mark added.

He said the Maidenhead Ale Trail is a chance for people to ‘have a look around and see what's available’ in the town.

“It gives [pubs] a chance to show off what they have because quite often people stick with the pub they know and they don't go to other places,” he added.

Mark said he met some people who didn’t know there was a Hall and Woodhouse pub in Taplow.

“It’s a fantastic venue – same as the Lord Grenfell, not everyone knows where it is,” he said.

“It’s a great pub – it’s just getting the word out there, and if people spend maybe one or two times a month even going out to the pub, it would help.

“That's what we're trying to do, to encourage people to at least have a try.”

Participating pubs will offer pamphlets for visitors to claim stickers when they buy a beer, and a souvenir badge will be available for those who visit all eight venues in five weeks.

The closing party takes place at The Maiden’s Head on Sunday, November 16. For more information visit facebook.com/groups/1871068070425962