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Did you know?
Newbury once made enough beer to get most of London legless. The arrival of steam power helped Berkshire to become the third biggest beer-producing county in England, with barrel-laden barges taking porter and stout down the Kennet and Avon Canal to London.

Despite the efforts of Victorian teetotallers to get pub-goers to drink coffee instead, Newbury’s brewing industry thrived into the early 20th century – there were 75 pubs in town – when the South Berkshire Brewery took over the other three Newbury brewers to create a virtual monopoly. However, Reading’s Simmonds Brewery also had expansion plans, and by the 1930s had taken over and closed down all the town’s brewing operations – using the sites as depots for the dray-teams.

Today, Berkshire beer is only available in one of Newbury’s 25 pubs – the Monument – although our brewing heritage is evident at the Phoenix Brewery in Bartholomew Street. However, Newbury did manage to export its craftsmanship in the shape of James and George Adnams, who migrated to Suffolk and founded the Adnams Brewery, which remains a going concern.

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Closed for Lunch
  There was a flurry of activity in Newbury’s Market Place earlier today when police and immigration officials raided the premises of Pizza Express.

Several police vehicles and an unmarked van with blacked out windows attended and police in body armour detained 2 suspects in handcuffs.

  Published: 29th January 2009 13.52pm

Fatality on the A339 near Victoria Park.
  The A339 through Newbury was closed for several hours on Saturday evening following an accident which took place between the Robin Hood Roundabout and the Police Station Roundabout.

The accident occurred around 6.45pm and is believed to have been caused by a pedestrian attempting to cross the road near to the bridge which carries the A339 over the Kennet & Avon Canal.

  Published: 26th January 2009 07.30am

Invasion of the street pedlars
  This Saturday (6th August) has seen the return of the street pedlars to Northbrook Street; they congregate on or near the bridge, forcing pedestrians to walk round their displays. They also position themselves outside the entrances to the larger stores like Marks and Spencers and Woolworths.
  Published: 06th September 2008 20.48pm

Market move gathers pace
  The campaign to move Newbury's struggling market traders into Northbrook Street steps up a gear tonight when Newbury Town Council decides whether to throw its weight behind the plan. Liberal Democrat town and district councillor Julian Swift-Hook has triggered a debate to force town representatives to make their position on the move official.
  Published: 21st July 2008 13.33pm

Cinema open for Christmas 2009
  The cinema will be on the south side of the Kennet Centre shopping complex in a prominent position of the town’s emerging ‘cultural quarter’. It will be operated by Vue whose portfolio currently boasts around 607 screens in over 62 cinemas including a flagship in London’s West End where royal premieres have been hosted for over 60 years.
  Published: 24th June 2008 18.55pm

No Standing in the Market Place
  Council officials have banned people from standing outside pubs and enjoying a drink.

Under new rules to encourage a Mediterranean atmosphere in the Market Place, landlords applying to put tables and chairs outside their pubs have been told that customers must be sat down if they want to drink outside.

  Published: 24th June 2008 11.54am

Village buses could be axed
  Newbury Buses has admitted it may have to cut some rural bus services into Newbury due to rocketing fuel prices.

The company, owned by Reading Borough Council, has refused to raise fares in Reading, but has already slapped an extra 10p on a journey in Newbury and Thatcham, and an extra 20p each way in rural areas.

  Published: 24th June 2008 09.37am

New recycling service begins this week
  Households in West Berkshire have now received new recycling containers, for the new service that starts this week (from Monday 23 June).

West Berkshire Executive Councillor, Geoff Findlay, said: “This is great news for all local people and will put West Berkshire at the forefront of efficient waste management."

  Published: 23rd June 2008 16.48pm

Park Way evictions to start within days
  Local businesses in Park Way could be given just 4 weeks to find new premises, if developer Standard Life finally decides to go ahead with the scheme next week.

West Berkshire Council Chief Executive Nick Carter wrote to more than 20 businesses on Friday warning them that once Standard Life confirm whether they still want to go ahead, compulsory purchase orders will be enforced.

  Published: 23rd June 2008 16.21pm

Exciting new plans for Bartholomew Street
  New plans to redevelop one of Newbury’s eyesores could bring with it more disruption for shoppers, workers and visitors to the town next year.

Last week, the Waterbridge Group cleared the first hurdle with plans to demolish the former Pearl Assurance block in Bartholomew Street – currently the home of Iceland frozen foods and other retailers.

  Published: 23rd June 2008 16.18pm

Clampdown on violent crime a success
  A clampdown on violent crime month in Newbury town centre has been declared a success. During December, extra resources were put into the town centre during the day and night to carry out high profile patrols. Test purchasing operations were carried out to tackle the sale of alcohol to underage people and visits were made to all licensed premises in the area.
  Published: 03rd January 2008 09.25am

Fun for Half Term in the Market Place
  If you love animals then you’ll want to visit the Market Place on Friday 26 October from 10am – 3pm, an event sponsored by Kennet Shopping.

You’ll find a selection of large and small animals which you can stroke and, if appropriate feed, or groom. Due to the Foot and Mouth restrictions there will be no cloven hoofed animals attending but there’s still lots to see, donkey, pony, rabbits, ducks to name a few.

  Published: 06th October 2007 01.31am

New Christmas lights for Newbury
  Newbury Town Council is very pleased to announce that it has entered into a 5 year contract with Millennium Quest to supply new Christmas Lights for Newbury Town Centre. The new Christmas Lights are planned to be installed in time for a grand switch-on on the evening of Friday 30 November 2007.
  Published: 28th August 2007 14.09pm

A Level success at Newbury College
  Students in Sociology, Psychology and English Language achieved 100% pass rate in their A2 exams. Results for AS French and Pure Maths also saw 100% pass rate. A number of students are going on to the University of their choice including Southampton, Reading and Oxford Brookes.
  Published: 16th August 2007 16.38pm

More listeners for Kick FM
  The latest official radio audience figures have been released and it’s good news once again for Kick FM. They show that people in West Berkshire are listening to the station for twenty percent longer than a year ago, and that almost one in four adults in the area are now tuning in, compared to one in five a year ago.
  Published: 16th August 2007 12.43pm

Vodafone ball cancelled
  After a decade of some of the most lavish staff parties in the corporate world, Vodafone has cancelled its famous summer ball for employees. The Shaw-based mobile phone firm told staff recently that rising costs made the bash too expensive, even though costs were reined in two years ago, for example with Tony Hadley headlining instead of Robbie Williams.
  Published: 27th June 2007 18.45pm

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