Wishlist #14; Good Beer Guide Online
CAMRA's Good Beer Guide (GBG) is a decent publication. Yes, it's not all-inclusive. Yes, some entries defy rational explanation. But it's still the most comprehensive papery-thing-tied-up-with-string beer guide that I know of for the UK.
And the papery-thing bit is the problem. I visited Norfolk last month; the GBG travelled on the back seat of the car and signposted us to outstanding places like the Ugly Bug at Colton that we wouldn't have known about otherwise. But the problem with a printed guide is that it's old gen as soon as it's printed. Pubs close, opening hours change. So, how about getting the GBG online - and updated frequently.
The GBG must be a revenue-generator for CAMRA; I've misplaced my set of last year's accounts, so I don't know the figure. The argument proffered against producing an online version in the past has been that fewer people would buy the book, thus less cash enters CAMRA's coffers. But perhaps they ought to think of the bigger picture; what if some other online pub guide adds a 'Good Beer Guide' flag to their listings? As pubs already advertise the fact that they're in the Guide, is it fair to say that the listing info is already in the public domain?
A CAMRA-endorsed web-based directory site, with members-only access, could add value to the Good Beer Guide rather than threaten it. At the very least, let's have a more comprehensive GBG 'updates' section on the CAMRA site... perhaps one that branches/members can update themselves?
And the papery-thing bit is the problem. I visited Norfolk last month; the GBG travelled on the back seat of the car and signposted us to outstanding places like the Ugly Bug at Colton that we wouldn't have known about otherwise. But the problem with a printed guide is that it's old gen as soon as it's printed. Pubs close, opening hours change. So, how about getting the GBG online - and updated frequently.
The GBG must be a revenue-generator for CAMRA; I've misplaced my set of last year's accounts, so I don't know the figure. The argument proffered against producing an online version in the past has been that fewer people would buy the book, thus less cash enters CAMRA's coffers. But perhaps they ought to think of the bigger picture; what if some other online pub guide adds a 'Good Beer Guide' flag to their listings? As pubs already advertise the fact that they're in the Guide, is it fair to say that the listing info is already in the public domain?
A CAMRA-endorsed web-based directory site, with members-only access, could add value to the Good Beer Guide rather than threaten it. At the very least, let's have a more comprehensive GBG 'updates' section on the CAMRA site... perhaps one that branches/members can update themselves?
As you probably know the Guide is already digitally available via your mobile phone (http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=283782). Sure that's not as good as being on an open website but it's not bad.
ReplyDeleteAs for an up-to-date listing, many CAMRA sites do that to one degree or another but I suspect it's quite hard work keeping it up-to-date.
Isn't the gen you're really looking for about beer rather than pubs? For most branches I suspect their concern is to find a pub that does a real ale not to find a pub that does a real ale it they've not had before ...and yes I realise you're a reluctant scooper :)
I think you're suggesting that CAMRA turn into something it's not (or certainly something it's not in the eyes of many of its members).
Perhaps what you are really after is a new organisation called ScoopRA!