Yapton beer fest 'one of the best'

More than a thousand supporters made the 19th Yapton Beerex last weekendone of the best.

They drained the 66 nine-gallon kegs of real ale and left very little of the ciders and perrys and foreign bottled beers during the three days of celebrating the best of the brews.

Representatives from Arundel Brewery and the new Langham Brewery, based near Lodsworth, were also present. Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb also went along.

The festival is held by the Western Sussex branch of Camra. Chairman and festival organiser Phil Wildsmith said: 'It was as good a festival as we've ever had. We see the same people year in and year out because they have it as a regular date in their diaries.

'We will be back at the same time and the same place next year.'

The festival occurred as the licensed trade faces up to the indoor smoking ban which comes into force on July 1.

Mr Wildsmith said: 'We are concerned that the companies which own some urban pubs, that do not have an outside area where a parasol could be put up to protect smokers, will say they are not viable and apply for a change of use to turn them into residential premises.

'We need to make sure that doesn't happen. I am not aware of any specific threats to pubs in this area but we will be watching closely to see that is not the case. I am sure publicans are making contingency plans to look after smokers after July 1. I know there are concerns about the loss of trade from smokers who decide to stay at home.

'But there is also a real opportunity to look at the majority of people who don't smoke and who might have been put off going into pubs because of the smoky atmosphere.'