Ale Under Canvas

by Leo Wallace

UK Campers provide a great support to our local economies, often going the extra mile to soak up all that a region has to offer. This is especially true when it comes to local delicacies, with beer being one of them! If anyone appreciates that first pint of the evening, it's us campers, who've probably spent the whole day walking to the pub! We write a lot on this site about the environmental benefits of a domestic UK camping trip, but in these turbulent economic times we also have a big role to play in supporting small local businesses. What better way to do it than opting for a local brew at the end of a long day's rambling?

For those campers in Yorkshire, try one of the wonderful, award-winning ales being produced by Wold Top Brewery near Bridlington. Thanks in large part to the support of local customers, Wold Top seems to have enjoyed a roaring trade this Christmas and New Year.

Tom Mellor, who owns the Wold Newton, Driffield based business with his wife, Gill, says “For the third year running we have enjoyed double digit growth, with sales of bottled beer and mini casks through local shops and Farmer’s Markets showing the strongest growth. “We’re delighted with the figures. It goes to show that, even when people are feeling the squeeze financially, they are not prepared to compromise on beer, but they are choosing to enjoy it at home instead of in a pub. “We have also noticed that more of our sales have come from East and North Yorkshire than last year which suggests that people are looking to support local businesses wherever possible, which is really encouraging for small businesses like ours.” Wold Top Brewery also enjoyed a bumper year in terms of awards for its growing range of real ales. In January, Wold Gold lived up to its name and took first prize at the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) North Awards and July saw Wold Gold win a coveted Two Star Taste Award from the Guild of Fine Food. In October, the Brewery won a SIBA arts award for its support of the arts in East and North Yorkshire and in November, Wold Top Bitter, the brewery’s flagship beer, won its first award by beating two Black Sheep Ales to lift Deliciouslyorkshire’s Best Drink crown for 2008.

So if you're thinking of pitching up in one of the beautiful beach campsites in Yorkshire this year, make sure you stop for a pint of Wold Way after all the beachcombing.