CAMRA launches 'Save Tetley's' petition at Great British Beer Festival

Yorkshire branches of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, have today joined forces to continue the quest to save the iconic Tetley's Brewery in Leeds by launching a petition at the Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court, London.

The decision to close the historic Hunslet brewing site was met by criticism from CAMRA last November, with Carlsberg UK, owner of Tetley's Leeds site, attacked for failing to promote Tetley's beer at a time of increasing consumer interest for real ale.

The petition from CAMRA's Yorkshire branches comes after a motion at CAMRA's national AGM in April was passed unanimously proposing a national campaign to save Tetley's. CAMRA's aim is to ensure that cask brands continue to be brewed in the city of Leeds, preferably at the existing Hunslet site, and will be presenting the petition to Carlsberg UK's Northampton HQ once members of the public have had the opportunity to voice their concerns by signing the document.

Mick Moss, CAMRA Yorkshire Regional Director, said:

'Taking the fight to the Great British Beer Festival has been a great ploy for raising the awareness of this potential closure outside of Yorkshire, with Festival-goers of all ages expressing grave concern at a brewery closure that would drastically effect the community of Leeds.

'To brew Tetley's anywhere other than Yorkshire will simply mean it's not Tetley's! This petition we believe firmly will generate a groundswell of support during and after the Great British Beer Festival and we aim to present this petition to Carlsberg UK in a bid to convey the dissatisfaction of British drinkers at this potential closure.

'If Carlsberg UK are unable to keep brewing Tetley's in Leeds, we urge them to offer other companies the chance to take over the Hunslet site, and keep the brands, the recipes and the traditions alive within Yorkshire!'

www.savetetleys.org.uk