Sad News
John Young, of Young's the brewer, has just died. Young's probably isn't that well known outside of this neck of the woods, being a South London based operation, but it should be as it is A - a brewer of excellent beer, B - a pub operator of great repute and C - a fine example of a family run business. Full obit of Mr Young here.
As a sleeper member of CAMRA and occasional real ale bore, I followed Mr Young's career closely and for a man of advanced years he showed a remarkable ability to manipulate the press and defend the independence of the family business. The company had (and I think still has) a share structure with A & B class shares which gave A shares a greater say in the running of the company, and one of the institutional inverstors would regularly make a stink at AGMs about both the shareholding structure and the direction of the company. One year Mr Young appeared at the AGM in a beekeeper's outfit, in order 'to ward off b-stings'.
One of my aphorisms is that there is no such thing as a bad Young's pub, and I'm yet to find an establishment where that does not hold true - they look after their beer properly, have decent landlords and don't turn their pubs into horrible theme pubs or target 'vertical lager drinkers' and so forth. So, ideal for a quiet chat, which is what I look for in a watering hole. I trust the good family Young will continue in the best traditions of John Young and his ancestors.
Much though I loathe mission statements (and I might do a post on them one of these days), this is the one at Young's: "Delighting our customers with stylish pubs, unique beers and great service". Quite laudable I think.
As a sleeper member of CAMRA and occasional real ale bore, I followed Mr Young's career closely and for a man of advanced years he showed a remarkable ability to manipulate the press and defend the independence of the family business. The company had (and I think still has) a share structure with A & B class shares which gave A shares a greater say in the running of the company, and one of the institutional inverstors would regularly make a stink at AGMs about both the shareholding structure and the direction of the company. One year Mr Young appeared at the AGM in a beekeeper's outfit, in order 'to ward off b-stings'.
One of my aphorisms is that there is no such thing as a bad Young's pub, and I'm yet to find an establishment where that does not hold true - they look after their beer properly, have decent landlords and don't turn their pubs into horrible theme pubs or target 'vertical lager drinkers' and so forth. So, ideal for a quiet chat, which is what I look for in a watering hole. I trust the good family Young will continue in the best traditions of John Young and his ancestors.
Much though I loathe mission statements (and I might do a post on them one of these days), this is the one at Young's: "Delighting our customers with stylish pubs, unique beers and great service". Quite laudable I think.
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on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at 8:12 am.
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As a card carrying Northerner and therefore natural expert on beer I can state that southern beer is pish!
The best beers come from lanashire and and yorkshire , although cheshire has two good breweries Robinsons and whitbreads, as far as I know robinsons still use shire horses on their stockport town deliveries.
lancashire
Nah, Northern beers aren't hoppy enough. Although I'll put up with most of them bar Tetley, which is ghastly.
As a sidebar to this, the Boddingtons - previous owners of the eponymous brew are methodist teetotallers who never touched the stuff.
Southern beers should not be confused with some of the rubbish that is served in London pubs.
Trent water gives northern beers a big advantage but Young's and Wadworth's produce some great beers.
Of Young's Waggledance, Special and Double Chocolate Stout are personal faves and of Wadworth's 6X.
Good call James.
I'm a great believer in supporting local businesses wherever possible, and when that means drinking Fuller's or Young's ales it is no hardship. And 6X is divine.
waggledance???
thats a marketing gimmick, nice enogh but a bit light for me.
There is no "body" to southern beers ,if you ever get a chance try robinsons "old tom" its a winter brew and 8% proof , fortunatley most of the places that serve it are in areas with plenty of quite country roads and not a police officer to be seen.
Any more of this and we will all start talking about which pipe tobbaco we prefer and who makes the best sandals.
Willaim you have the beard and love of real ale, do you also have the sandals and pipe?
The beard's gone and it is a resounding no to both pipe and sandals....
Have none heard of the closure of the RAM Brewery (Brasserie du Belier)?
Cheers
20.9.06
Hercule, I have, yes. A shame, but a reasoned business decision.
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