NostalgiaThursday JULY 11 SPREAD - Use 9 pic 300 word template

 Textfor Thursday Spread on Hartleys drinking club

 THEREare plenty of big-name coffee outlets which encourage drinkers with loyaltycards but they fall far short of the South Cumbrian brewery club whichchallenged beer fans to take a glass of ale in all 55 of its public bars - afew of which feature here.

TheMail, on August 19 in 1981, noted: "Hartley's brewery at Ulverston islaunching an exclusive club for its enthusiastic regulars.

"Allyou have to do to join Hartleys Club 55 is to take part in a gigantic pubcrawl.

"Thebrewery has 55 tied houses in Cumbria and North Lancashire and the first 100drinkers to visit 21 different Hartleys public houses will become juniormembers and get a club T-shirt and certificate.

"Thenext 25 connoisseurs to cover 40 Hartleys public houses will earn senior memberstatus, with a club tie, senior certificate and a personal engraved glass.

"Butonly five drinkers will receive the accolade of becoming life members aftervisiting every one of the Hartleys public houses.

"Duringa visit to the brewery they will be presented with an engraved yard of ale, abar for their club tie and a personal framed certificate.

"Membershipforms will be distributed to all public houses by the end of August andentrants can have them stamped by the licensee of any Hartleys public housewhere they call for a pint."

Aspokesman said: "Some of our pubs are a bit hard to find but we are surethe real enthusiasts will track them down."

TheUlverston brewery was bought by Stockport brewer Robinsons in 1982 along withits pubs, inns and hotels.

Thefinal brew of Hartleys from the Ulverston site was on November 8 in 1991.

Amongthe more distant pubs which fell under the ownership or control of Hartleysthrough the decades included the Boot Inn at Eskdale, the Golden Rule atAmbleside and the Sawyers Arms in Stricklandgate, Kendal.

Ulverstonpubs included the Bird in Hand on Brewery Street and the Old Friends onSoutergate.

InDalton you could sample a Hartleys brew at the Brown Cow at Goose Green, theGolden Ball in Tudor Square, or the Cavendish Arms in Market Place.

Barrowoutlets included The Robin Hood in Crellin Street, the Kings Arms at Hawcoatand the Crown at North Scale.