Fun Events For The Setting of The Sun

The rising sun - it was the best pub in Epsom
Flying Dog Beer Festival
The rising sun - it was the best pub in Epsom
27-29 July
The last beer festival we will hold. Be there!
Pub and Breweriana Garden Auction
5 August 2.30
Drink a Pub Dry Party
12 August 8.00pm 'till late
Goodbye and thanks for all the fish day
13 August 12.00
Sunset 8.30

icSurreyOnline - Real ale champion loses fight

'THE sun is going down on a landlord who has made The Rising Sun, Epsom, a peaceful
refuge for discerning drinkers.
Dave Roberts and wife Ruth have agreed to go on August 14 after standing firm against
an order from new owners Young's Brewery that he stocks their beers and products
and no others.
Mr Roberts' deal with former owners Punch Taverns allowed him to sell not only his
own Pilgrim Ale - produced at his Pilgrim Brewery, West Street, Reigate - but also
dozens of others from small independent breweries around the UK.'

News Update

It has been a little quiet but we will have a few events on at the riser over the next few weeks. This news section will be updated with any info as it becomes available.

Our story was printed in the magazine Private Eye
www.private-eye.co.uk/

Camra are holding a meet in the Riser, information below.

Probably your last chance to enjoy Pilgrim Brewery Beers at the Rising
Sun, Heathcote Road, Epsom?
Thursday 10th August
Meet at 20.00hrs onwards, all welcome
Contact - Clive Taylor 020 8949 2099

Latest open letter from the Chair.

Dear Friends of the Riser

We are facing the end of an era. David and Ruth have confirmed that they have come to an arrangement with Young’s for them to leave after the 14th August.

While we have failed to preserve the status quo beyond August, this campaign has bought precious time and given strength to Dave and Ruth’s negotiations. Please be aware that all your efforts and support have been vital in securing acceptable terms for the Roberts.

The loss of Dave and Ruth will obviously mean a sea change in the pub. Many of you may choose to vote with your feet, but I hope that many continue to support the ideals we have shared at the Riser in recent years and wish to continue to call for choice and an inclusive welcome under the new management.

We must remember that the local residents will have to live with the results of whatever Young’s bring to the Riser and it surely remains in our interests as local drinkers for the pub to be as good as possible.

The STR campaign remains a force to observe and comment on the transition to a Young’s tied house, and to ensure that assurances given to retain the character of the Riser, are acted upon.

Tom Hutchings, Young’s manager of tenanted houses, has spoken with us, suggesting a meeting to discuss our concerns, and to introduce the Tenants they have in mind for the pub. Whilst we have been alienated by Young’s actions, my feeling is that the new tenants must be given an opportunity, as individuals, to be judged on their own merits by their new community.

This meeting recognises the stake that you all have in this pub and provides an opportunity to influence its future. Whilst we may not be able to change the “big” things that would continue to attract us to the pub as customers, it may well be the “little” things that make the pub easier to live with.

We are currently considering a short wish list and would welcome your thoughts, providing they are printable!

It goes without saying that we wish David and Ruth a happy and healthy future. We can all contribute further, by continuing to use the Riser over the next few weeks, where stocks of our favourite beers are to be drunk, until they run out!! So let’s send them off on a high, with a few more pounds in their pockets.

To use Ruth’s words, “now its time for some fun”.

Geoff Virgo
Chair

29th June 2006

David Roberts responds

Read the response of David Roberts to the article in the Epsom Guardian in our press section. It makes an interesting read.

Surrey Online - Beer battle comes to a head

More press coverage!
'Young's wants Dave Roberts, at The Rising Sun, in Epsom, to sell its beers only and has threatened to have him evicted.
But he is refusing to clear other ales from the cellar and his customers are backing his stand by presenting a 1,000-name petition to the brewer.
The new owner,which paid £900,000 for the pub in Heathcote Road, says Dave and wife Ruth will be booted out unless they give in.'

Western Sussex CAMRA

A big thanks to the folks over at Western Sussex CAMRA for supporting our campaign for choice. Read their article on the fate of the riser.

Open letter from the Chair!

Dear Friends of the Riser

So much is happening! So I’m only glad you are not relying on me to report on progress; the website say’s it all.

It’s nearly a week since the last meeting between Young’s and the Roberts. I understand that confirmation of the points agreed at that constructive session is still to materialise.

As you will know we delivered the petition on Wednesday at Wandsworth and hit the Kingston Beer Festival on Friday and Saturday.

We are trying to digest and clarify some of the messages coming from Mr Dardis on Wednesday and Young’s press people as reported in this weeks Guardian.

Much has been going on behind the scenes that will become evident in time.

Thank you to our good friends opposite the Riser for the use of their front gardens for our banner. It certainly highlighted the campaign locally, now we are looking to extend our activity to a wider audience.

We are having a steering meeting on Tuesday night – expect to see some new initiatives.

We still have no indication of how a corporation is going to preserve what individuals have created. We continue to press them to provide answers or an admission that they may have got it wrong this time.

We have a proud history in this town for not complying and don’t intend doing so now.

Kind Regards



Geoff Virgo
Chair

26 June 2006

Thanks to Beer Today!

A big thanks to Darren Norbury at Beer Today for the great coverage on their website! All support is appreciated.

Row Brewing Over Exotic Beer Sales (from This Is Hertfordshire)

This should spread slowly around the news pages on the web now so just click the link above to read the article created at first for the Epsom Guardian.

‘The disgruntled landlord said: "It's killing off choice when our customers know which beers are better. "We have people from Wimbledon who call us their local. I know of 10 or 12 people who have moved house just to be near us. Everyone is distraught."
In the battle of David Roberts versus the brewing Goliath there may be several rounds
to come.’