CAMRA is making a film series about community owned pubs
CAMRA is partnering with Plunkett UK to produce a new three-part documentary film series for its educational Learn and Discover platform, celebrating communities who have banded together to save their much-loved pubs.
The exciting series will highlight the many stages and challenges faced by local campaigning groups, shedding light on the process of securing and running a community pub. CAMRA hopes the documentary will encourage people to see community ownership as a viable and accessible option for their own local.
The film’s production team boasts the expertise of Katie Greenhalf (pictured left), This Film and Rachel Auty (right), Cameron Rae Consultancy and founder of Women On Tap CIC, who have documented the highs and lows of groups who have heroically campaigned to save and now run the Traveller’s Rest in Skeeby, North Yorkshire, the Antwerp Arms in Tottenham, London and Yr Heliwr in Nefyn, Wales.
Alex Metcalfe, Campaigns and Communications Manager: Learn and Discover, said:
“Following the success of CAMRA’s award-winning documentary, Desi: A Pub Story, I cannot wait for the next addition to the exciting library of Learn and Discover content.
“Pubs are more than a place to enjoy cask beer and real cider and perry, they are social hubs for the local community, bringing people together to help tackle loneliness and social isolation. In many areas, pubs provide the last remaining public communal space, allowing friends and families to meet and feel part of a greater community.
“Once a pub is gone, they never come back. The effort volunteers put in to save their locals from closure, to bring a pub into community ownership, should be put into the spotlight. Viewers will enjoy learning more about community owned pubs and all the trials involved in keeping them alive, from organising fundraising activities to forming a community group.
“With a huge catalogue of entertaining videos, engaging articles and audio clips about beer, cider and perry plus the pubs and clubs which serve them, CAMRA’s award-winning educational platform Learn and Discover is the perfect place for this new project. I cannot wait to show you the amazing work Katie Greenhalf and Rachel Auty have produced.”
James Alcock, Plunkett UK Chief Executive, added:
“As a national charity supporting people in rural areas to set up and run a wide range of businesses in community ownership, Plunkett UK is delighted to be partnering with CAMRA on this important documentary series that highlights the important role that community pubs have to play. The films will shine a spotlight on businesses based across the country that are part of our membership network.
“At Plunkett, we see time and time again how crucial it is to save local assets such as village pubs from closure. When such businesses close, they leave people without access to vital supplies and services and increase the risk of isolation.
"By transforming them into community businesses, we know they can be truly inclusive and benefit everyone who lives and works there. They are highly effective at acting as multi-service hubs that proactively reach out to support those most vulnerable in a rural community, positively tackling issues of poverty, isolation, and loneliness.”
End
Notes to editors
Images can be found here.
CAMRA has guides and resources about saving your local pub, including on community ownership, here.
Find out more about community pubs here.
About Learn and Discover
Learn and Discover is CAMRA’s award-winning educational platform, home to a large library of guides, articles, videos and audio material from esteemed writers, educators and industry experts, exploring everything there is to know about beer, cider, perry, social clubs and pubs.
About Plunkett UK
Plunkett UK is a charity which supports people in rural areas to set up and run a wide range of businesses, including pubs, in community ownership. Plunkett UK represents over 800 trading community-owned businesses and a further 800 in the process of setting up, from shops and pubs through to woodlands, farms and fisheries. Find more information here.
About the film makers:
Rachel Auty, Cameron Rae Consultancy Ltd and Women On Tap CIC
Rachel is a marketing and communications consultant, an award-winning beer writer, and a CAMRA member. She is the founder of Women On Tap CIC, former Head of Marketing at Brew York, and serves as a director on the board of the British Guild of Beer Writers. With over a decade of experience working on projects centred around pubs and beer, Rachel has made significant contributions to the field.
Katie Greenhalf, filmmaker, editor and creative producer
Katie Greenhalf is a Yorkshire based filmmaker with over 15 years of experience crafting compelling short documentaries and corporate films. As the founder of her own production company, she specialises in character-led storytelling that highlights the richness of real people, places and communities.
