SIBA Locals Signs 100th Member Pub 

The Society of Independent Brewers has welcomed The Ranmoor Inn in Sheffield as the 100th member to join the SIBA Locals membership scheme, launched this summer. 

SIBA Locals was launched at the Great British Beer Festival in August, as a way to help licensees capitalise on the growing consumer demand for local food and drink. Benefits to members include a brass plaque for display outside the pub, posters to communicate beer information inside and a listing on the dedicated SIBA Locals website.

The Ranmoor Inn has been run by licensees Nigel and Vanessa Williams for 10 years. It sells three permanent local ales from the Sheffield–based Abbeydale and Bradfield breweries, and a fourth guest ale which is often sourced from the south Yorkshire/Derbyshire region. 

Presenting Williams with his plaque, SIBA chief executive Julian Grocock said, “We’re pleased to reach the 100-pub milestone with SIBA Locals – though there are of course many thousands more who would benefit from joining the scheme. For licensees, it’s a way to promote their ‘local beer hero’ credentials and attract the growing number of customers who now expect to see locally-brewed beers on the bar in the same way that they expect to see locally-sourced food on the menu.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome The Ranmoor Inn into the scheme: Nigel has been a supporter of local ales for many years and his enthusiasm has undoubtedly introduced many of Sheffield’s residents to the joys of ‘drinking local’.” 

The Ranmoor was one of the first to sign up for SIBA’s Direct Delivery Scheme (DDS) when Enterprise Inns joined the scheme some six years ago. Williams said, “Local ales have been good for business. Our customers are typical of the new generation of cask drinkers: affluent young professionals – including a growing number of women. They’re interested in the provenance of what they eat and drink, and like to support their local brewers. Our best sellers are ales between 3.5-4.0% ABV.” 

Local beer is one of the only sectors of the UK beer market to be showing growth. According to SIBA’s Local Brewing Industry Report, local beer volumes grew by 8.8% during 2010, compared to an overall decline in the beer market of -3.9% (BBPA Beer Barometer). Some 80% of SIBA’s volumes are cask ales.

Licensees interested in finding out more about SIBA Locals should visit their dedicated website.

The Ranmoor Inn is located in the Fulwood area of Sheffield. It features in the Good Beer Guide and been named CAMRA’s Pub of the Month for Sheffield, as well as being used to launch CAMRA’s ‘Locale’ scheme