Thanks @rugbyadv for feature in Flair magazine. Let you know when digital version available if you don't get one through your letterbox.

END DAY 5

Sold
Draught Ales   (Minicask and 2lt glass Flagon most popular)
Purity Pure Gold 61 Litres
Everards Tiger 46 Litres
Dowbridge Mild 35 Litres
Bottles  Local
Nobbys Brewery 31
Church End 27
Hoggleys Brewery 21 bottles
Frog Island 18
Purity Brewing 18
Byatts Brewery 16
Dowbridge 13
Everards 12
Total 156
U.S.A Craft
Total 59
Belgium
Total 45
Plus a few wines, Malts and Liquers

80% of break-even achieved with the support of the folk of Rugby and surrounding areas, without exception a great bunch of discerning imbibers.
Thanks
Cheers

END DAY ONE

A solid start for a wet Wednesday, Selling a few minicasks of local ales, bottled ones too. Belgium also did well, with a bias towards the darker Dubbel style. Few teething troubles on IT but from a customer point of view, all seemed happy to have a new Real Ale 'offie' in town.

Had a slightly delayed arrival today from Scotland, A guest who goes by the nickname 'the Caley'. He (she?) has gone straight into the 'walk in shop- floor chiller' to settle down for a bit after a long journey. Local (brewed within 30 miles of Rugby) is great (30 breweries we reckon) but we shouldn't be closed to experiencing a different brewing heritage and culture once in a while, should we ?



p.s. He (decided this one's definatley a He) may be 'on tap' by the weekend all being well and was travelling alone (friend unavoidably detained) so with a bit of sun this weekend ??? He may not stick around for long.

cheers
A

2 sleeps to go !!! ***PRESS RELEASE***

PRESS RELEASE

16 July 2012

‘RUGBY TAPS’ INTO TOWN CENTRE TO ADD SOME SPARKLE!  

It will be all hands to the pumps when ‘Rugby Tap’, the latest new business to   set up in Rugby Town Centre, opens its doors for the first time on Wednesday 18 July. The new real ale and more (wine and spirit) off-licence, located on St. Mathews Street, will act as a town centre shop window for locally brewed ales, offering customers, a refreshingly different choice of quality ales, wines and spirits at great prices!

Employing up to three people, the beautifully designed, unique and characterful interior is guaranteed to quench your thirst and provide a tasteful ‘real ale’ shopping experience. This includes a walk-in display chiller from a bankrupt flower business in Yorkshire, a serve over haberdashery counter from a closed down chandlers in Walsall, bookcases and pigeon hole shelving from a school in Harrow and a couple of Bordeaux wine barrels with an oak table top for a counter. The flooring was inspired by planks from old wine crates, all this mixed with a heck of a lot of sanding and voila you have an up-cycled ‘pop up’ specialist indie shop – cheers!

Colin Arthur, owner of Rugby Tap, with over 25 years drinks trade experience managing Hotels, Pubs, Wine merchants and craft brewery sales, in London and the Midlands said: “A shop floor walk-in chiller holds the firkins, creating theatre and helping to bring the massive successful revolution this industry has already undergone over the last 10 years to an even wider audience not currently catered for by the many thriving ‘Real Ale pubs’. I’ve lived in Rugby for over 20 years and I’m really excited to be opening my first business within the town centre. I think we have created something very special and can’t wait to start welcoming my first customers.”

Aftab Gaffar, Director of Operations for Rugby First said: “New businesses continue to open in Rugby Town Centre despite the tough economic climate. ‘Rugby Tap’ offers something very different and unique and I think customers will be delighted with the charm and character of the new interior, along with the exciting and quality range of products on offer. I wish Colin all the best in his new venture.”

For further information please call 01788 576 767, 0794 1178203 or email Rugbytap@virginmedia.com

-ENDS-

10 SLEEPS TO GO !!!
Some friends have started to arrive...

Purity Brewery, Beer Miles 26.

Church End Brewery, Beer Miles 17.9

Hoggley's Brewery, Beer Miles 15.2.

Nobby's Brewery, Beer Miles 10.9.

11 SLEEPS TO GO !!!

SHOP LOOKING COOL, (WE THINK) HOPE YOU DO TO. JUST MINOR DETAILS LIKE SOME BARRELS TO KEEP OUR TEST ONE IN THE FRIDGE COMPANY, SOME ARE 'RESTING IN THE CELLAR' AFTER AN EXHAUSTIVE JOURNEY OF 26 'BEER MILES'. MORE FRIENDS ARRIVING SOON, WATCH THIS SPACE...

12 SLEEPS TO GO ! (12.5 for me)
Shop all done, cellar cleared (phew)
belgian beer nearly done.
american craft beers waiting for one supplier otherwise done.
casks to be bright, pinned down to a Golden, a 'bitter' and a Mild pretty much sorted (i think). Possibility of opening with a Pale Ale also?? depends on anticipated demand over first few days.
Vino orders going in tomorrow
Is it one of the best things in the world to put together your own 'cellar'?
Crisp order sorted (no shortage of tasters for this 'focus group' either).

aob
Website coming along nicely, have a mock up of homepage, looking slick.
Rugby town centre leafletting fri/sat (oficially of course), I'm the one in the Rugbytap T-shirt.
So lets hope it's sunny eh ? can't help thinking though if it's wet then theres more chance of it being sunny in 12 sleeps time and the 'Golden Ale' (bright) will fly out in those cute little 5litre minicasks with a handy carry handle straight into a garden near you.  I am old enough to remember the 'watneys party 7' !! anyone else ?

cheers
Arthur

p.s. 11 sleeps to go ! will include some pics.