Elgoods have kindly invited members of the branch to visit the brewery on the above date, full details in Diary Dates section

The 11th Welland Valley Beer Festival is earlier this year running over the weekend of Friday 7th Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June. Nine pubs around the Valley in the counties of Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland are coming together to showcase over 250 real ales including a special festival beer plus a range of ciders. There will also be traditional pub food with varied menus, a barbecue and live entertainment.

We have a very real opportunity to save the Great British Pub and we need you to get involved.
The Government backed beer and pubs in the recent Budget by abandoning plans for a beer duty hike and instead cutting beer duty for the first time in over 50 years. They are now building on their support for pubs by taking on the large pub companies who are exploiting pub licensees and putting the future of thousands of pubs at risk.

We are running a minibus to the Cambridge Beer Festival on Friday 24 May. The trip is free to festival workers and £7.00 to festival visitors. Book places through Social Secretary John Hunt. Full details in the Diary dates

Due to demand a bigger coach has been ordered and there are now places available again on this trip

Nene Valley Brewery have added a page to their website so people can sign up for their Beer of the Month club Well worth the visit to try their expanding range of beers.

Amazing but true. The Chancellor has scrapped the Beer Duty Escalator and replaced the expected 3p a pint increase with a 1p a pint decrease from Sunday. This only applies to beer (not cider, wine or spirits) so it's time to get down to your local for a few (before you don't have a local any more!!)

It's with much sadness that we have heard of the passing away of long standing branch member Gibert Cole on the 13th of March 2013. Gilbert was a very active member of the Peterborough branch for many years and held the position of Membership Secretary for over twenty years. His funeral takes place on the 28th of March 10am at Peterborough Crematorium. Afterwards at The Coalheavers Arms, Fletton. All welcome.

There are social events planned for Thursday 28 March, Saturday 6 April, Saturday 4 May and Saturday 1 June. Full details are in the Diary Dates section

The Shoulder got off to a good start but there's more work still to do but it's great having the pub open again. The pub's regulars are giving a helping hand and will do what they can to ensure it stays that way. Locale Officer John Rice has been super with his help and advice too. Cheers, David Fursdon