The LocAle Scheme

Launched in July 2008 CAMRA's LocAle scheme was set up to promote beer produced in the local area and also to raise awareness of green issues.

The initiative, run nationally, aims to encourage community pubs to source at least one real ale from a local producer. The idea is to encourage growth in the local economy, to give more support to local breweries - especially micros - by informing pub goers about breweries in the area, and to reduce transport time and costs which have an effect on the environment.

How local is local?

The rule for any pub participating in the scheme in North Oxfordshire is that the beer should be brewed within a 30-mile radius. This is generally considered as being the shortest driving distance being a pub and its closest brewery.

By the end of 2008 there were 28 CAMRA branches signed up to the initiative, including us here in North Oxfordshire. Some of the 10 pubs on board in our branch include The Dun Cow in Hornton, The Fox in Souldern, The Red Lion in Steeple Aston and The Woolpack in Banbury.