Greedy Greene King throws in the bar towel

Greene King have sold the Lewes Arms in Lewes, East Sussex to Fullers, a London brewery. This brings to an end a saga of complete and utter humiliation for the Suffolk accountants. Lewes drinkers will be glad to see the back of them. Good riddance!
See The Morning Advertiser. See PunchBuggy Passim.

Greedy King dethroned

In a sea of adverse publicity Greedy Greene King abdicates. The BBC reports on the humiliating climbdown.
They can't say they weren't warned - see PunchBuggy Passim.

Greedy Greene King blinks

Humiliating u-turn for Suffolk conglomerate. Read all about it in The Publican.
See also Friends of the Lewes Arms website.

Panto at Lewes Arms - Oh no, it's not!

The panto has departed after twenty-nine years. The beer-runner will be running elsewhere.
For an update on the Lewes Arms boycott go here. The pub closed on Christmas Day which is unheard of - even greedy Greene King must be wondering if they have made a sound business decision in this case. New Year's resolution - bring back the Harvey's!

Greedy Greene King lose out

News from Lewes and the Lewes Arms boycott indicates that Greedy King [the new Watney's] is losing the battle of the beers. Readers will recall that they took out the Harvey's beer against the wishes of the customers, who now drink elsewhere.
The Suffolk accountants will be getting a daily message from the till that all is not well. Presumably they also have a load of Suffolk beer on their hands that they can't sell. Oh what a shame, never mind!
Don't say they weren't warned. For more see PunchBuggy passim here and here.

Greedy Greene King turns nasty

The argument at the Lewes Arms in Lewes, East Sussex over the sale of Harvey's beer has gone sour. Greedy King have yanked the local Harvey's beer, on sale in the pub since anyone can remember, and customers be damned. Just in time for Christmas the greedy Suffolk conglomerate has decided to play scrooge.
But just who is responsible for this sickening behaviour:

Rooney Anand, GK chief executive, knows more about cake mixes, it seems, than respecting the traditions of British beer. Allegedly Greedy King know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Now loyal customers of the pub have launched a boycott. The Suffolk accountants shall not pass. More power to their elbow!
See Friends of the Lewes Arms blog.
See also Viva Lewes Issue 50 for update, also comment by Charles Wycherley [separate article]:
Favourite pub? "The Lewes Arms. But I think I’ll boycott it now they’re not serving Harveys. I’ll probably go to the Elephant now."
More from The Argus.
The Sussex Express.
The Morning Advertiser here and here.
Updated: The Publican.

Greedy Greene King - the new Watney's

Photo: Roger Bamber

Remember the bad old days of Watney's Red Barrel and Kegbuster, the CAMRA-campaign that defeated Grotney's. Nobody thought the mighty brewer could be laid low but the name Watney's no longer exists while CAMRA sails on.
Well watch Greedy King self-destruct as it screws drinkers at the Lewes Arms in Lewes, East Sussex. The customers prefer Harvey's Best, the local brew from the brewery down the road, the overwhelming choice of drinkers at the pub.
Greene King are removing Harvey's from the pub this weekend and only offering their own beers - poor tackle by comparison. A company that treats its customers with contempt will pay a bitter price in the long run. Sheltering behind phony PR that emphasises choice and the sanctity of the local fools nobody. Drinkers at the pub are mad as hell and won't forget this slight in a hurry.
Greedy Greene King are set to make a classic mistake. Bad luck to them.

Check out the Friends of the Lewes Arms blog here.