Ale trail has sour taste

PUB landlords are calling time on the rowdy hordes who have given a popular beer crawl a sour taste.

The Transpennine Ale Trail was introduced back in 2009 by Northern Rail for tourists and real ale drinkers to enjoy some of the best brews in eight railway taverns between Stalybridge and Batley — including Greenfield, Marsden and Huddersfield.

But its success has spiralled out of control: dozens of stag and hen parties have hijacked the trail every weekend to cause anti-social trouble.

In one recent incident, two grandparents enjoying a trip to Marsden with their three-year-old grandson were met with abuse. There have also been reports of drunken men urinating and vomiting in the streets.

A new scheme, Real Ale Trail Licensees (RATL), is intended to stop trouble since participating landlords will no longer serving binge-drinking parties on Saturdays between noon and 8pm.

Royce Franklin, chairman of the Transport and Traffic Group for Saddleworth & Lees, said: “The last thing we want to be is a killjoy, but the safety of passengers comes first.”