Landlord welcomes CAMRA's real ale trail drinkers

The landlord of the Waggon and Horses in Twyford has said he is looking forward to welcoming drinkers taking part in CAMRA's real ale trail.

Murdo Macsween, who used to work as a chef at the Oakley Court Hotel in Windsor, said the ale trail was a boost for business following a quiet January.

Twenty pubs across central Berkshire have been selected for the trail by the Reading and Mid Berkshire CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) and the initiative was launched at the Nag's Head in Reading on Saturday.

The trail is held every spring and ale drinkers can collect stickers when they buy an ale at each of the pubs.

Everyone who completes the trail, which runs until April 7, gets a free VIP ticket to the 19th Reading Beer and Cider festival, which is being held at Kings Meadow from May 2-5.

There is also a chance for people to enter a prize draw for four chances to win a polypin of locally brewed real ale or cider.

"People come from all over Berkshire and it's a quaint old pub, and they always say it's one of their favourites on the trail," said Murdo.

"It gives us an injection after January and gets the pub up and running again. It's a pity it doesn't go on all year."

Murdo said the High Street pub had started serving more real ales in recent years and it currently has Pride, Best Courage, Twyford Tipple, Loddon Ferryman's Gold, and Sharp's Doom Bar on tap.

The ale trail sticker collection leaflets are available at The Nag's Head in Reading, The Fox and Hounds in Caversham, Alehouse in Reading, the Bird in Hand in Knowl Hill and the Royal Oak in Tilehurst.

Also on this year's ale trail is The Shurlock Inn, in Shurlock Row, and The Star, in Waltham St. Lawrence.

CAMRA campaigns for a greater appreciation of real ales and has more than 145,000 members.