Pub news:

• Our reigning Branch Pub of the Year, the Fleur de Lys (East Hagbourne) won the first round of the Central Southern Region Pub of the Year and is now up against the Bell (Aldworth) and the Rising Sun (Haddenham).
• The Bear of North Moreton (North Moreton) and the White Lion (Crays Pond) have both had their ACV renewed
• David Cooper (Branch Chairman) reported to the May meeting that the ACV application for the Reformation (Gallowstree Common) failed because of lack of substantiation on community use. SODC is actually supportive of the application but is wary of granting approvals that could subsequently be challenged.
• It was previously noted that the Bottle & Glass management plans to open a bar/restaurant in the recently-closed Cau restaurant. There are no plans to sell real ale – Loddon and West Berks bottled beers only.
• Ei is advertising for a new tenant for the Bird in Hand (Sonning Common).
• The Sun (Hill Bottom) has new tenants and is now open seven days a week.
• The Royal (previously the Partridge, Wallingford) is being run by a small pubco, Punch Monkey, owned by the ex-Town Arms tenant, and is currently selling Amwell Springs.

Brewery news:

• Brakspear has rebranded its beer range. Brakspear’s Bitter will now be known as ‘Gravity’.