Save the Riser campaign gathers pace

June 12, 2006: A group of drinkers in Surrey are campaigning to keep choice in their local pub.

The Rising Sun, in Epsom, is run by David and Ruth Roberts, who set up the Pilgrim Brewery in 1999. In an ideal world they would have found a freehouse to provide one of those rare outlets every microbrewer needs. They couldn't afford that, but they were able to take on the Rising Sun with a Punch free-of-tie license.

So far so good: they could sell their beers, get popular guest ales in and maintain a bottled beer stock featuring curiosities from around the world.

Now, however, Punch has said it is selling the lease to Young's, and Young's naturally, want the pub to be like their other tied houses.

On June 1, the Rising Sun was issued with a letter revoking a clause in the lease which enabled them to be free of tie. In future all Pilgrim ales would have to be replaced by Young's beers and the magnificent range of draft lagers, cider and stouts were also in jeopardy.

The campaigners are hoping that: a - a more reasonable amount of time can be allocated to Ruth and Dave to pull out all the current range of products and surrender the lease; b - Young's consider some form of compensation to Ruth and Dave for the devastating effect on business which would result from their imposition of the tie; c - Young's can retain the unique nature of the pub by offering the sale of the freehold.

For more information, and to support the campaign, log on to www.savetheriser.org