Welcome to North Bedfordshire

Wheeling out the sexist tropes

As some of you will know, I’ve just finished writing a book on beer festivals (available through CAMRA Books from 8 May). As a result, I’m naturally attuned to beer festival news. So it was hard to miss the recent debate surrounding this year’s St Albans Beer and Cider Festival. To commemorate 100 years since the opening of the Ballito Hosiery Mill, the organisers commissioned a logo design which features the silhouette of the factory, along with a “beer-drinking mascot”. This cartoon lady, after the style of Ballito’s 1950s hosiery advertisements sits bare-footed, holding a pint. Her skirt is ruched up to reveal her stocking tops.