DIGEST: LAST UK BUTTON MANUFACTURER CLOSES, MOULTON, SIR KENNETH GRANGE, FACTORY VISITS

Great designers in the news:

Alex Moulton, engineer and designer, passed away earlier this month (Dezeen)

Kenneth Grange knighted (BBC)

Factory visits:

A visit to the Gloverall factory in Wellingborough (Proper Mag)

Inside the Private White V.C. factory (Cool Hunting)

At bicycle component manufacturer Royce, in Hampshire (Headset Press)

Steve Salter visits the Sunspel factory in Long Eaton (Port Magazine)

News items:

The shock collapse of the last British button manufacturer (Halesowen News)

Why are British factories turning away business? (Make it British)

Raspberry PI and the UK manufacturing resurgence (Wired)

On livery companies: British institutions (FT)

On skills shortages among young workers (Economist)

A piano maker tells of Thatcher's impact on UK piano manufacturing (Port Magazine)

Ale and cider:

The history of cider in the UK (Hot Rum Cow, ps 13-16)

Britain's lost breweries and beers (The Good Stuff)

Event:

David Hieatt (of Hiut Denim) to talk in London on Tuesday 15th January (YCN)

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Photo of Moulton bike from Dezeen

FESTIVE CHEER : HIGHGATE BREWERY, WALSALL

An enjoyably positive story to kick off December here. The Highgate Brewery in Walsall has been saved (for the time being) and is hoping to benefit from customers drinking at home over the Christmas period after a surge in demand for its five litre festive cask ales.

The wonderfully named Joanne Toon, spokeswoman for Highgate, told the Birmingham Post, 'It is keeping us afloat after a traumatic time, but we are determined to be able to supply everyone.'

A quick online search for a retailer selling the festive ale proved fruitless. However, there's some nice merchandise available here on the Friends of Highgate Brewery site.

Photo from Express & Star

SAVE THE WENLOCK

This fine pub is looking likely to be taken over, or worse demolished.

As the Save the Wenlock Facebook group says:

'The Wenlock Arms is a thriving pub and an institution. Whilst those involved in its sale and threatened closure may have perfectly respectable reasons for doing so, were this house to close a large community will lose an amenity and some their jobs.'

Picture from Matthew Ogle on the Save the Wenlock Flickr

THE LONDON BREWERS ALLIANCE SHOWCASE

M&I spent Friday evening drinking many fine ales from across the capital. There's plenty to say about our experience but right now the words are being quelled by the locally brewed hangover.

For more pictures please click here

LOCAL REAL ALE KEG BOOM

Meanwhile, in the Midlands, Kammac, the only manufacturer of giant 100 litre casks is reporting brisk business. Due to small real ale breweries popping up all over the land, demand is the highest it has been for some time.

Speaking on the local BBC news, (what M&I presume is) a spokesman for Kammac said, 'any publican who is not selling a local real ale could be missing out on a real business winner here.'

According to the BBC report almost 2,500 British pubs closed last year, at the rate of 39 a week.

However, brewers are reporting positive results: a 17% increase in turnover last year and a 4% increase in production during the recession.

Can the UK's real ale boom mirror the craft beer revolution in the US? We sincerely hope so.