CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has launched a new 'Adopt a Pub' scheme to help celebrate National Pubs Week 2005 - 19th February to 26th February.

CAMRA is asking consumers to order free National Pubs Week promotional packs to distribute to their favourite pubs, encouraging pubs to participate in the 'biggest generic pub campaign ever'.

National Pubs Week was first established in February 2003 after research had shown that approximately 20 pubs closed every month.

This campaign's main aim is to encourage more people to visit more pubs at this quiet time of the year for the industry following a busy Christmas period, and give pubs a springboard to try organising and promoting different pub events.

Over 15,000 pubs organised events in National Pubs Week 2003 and 2004, but CAMRA believes that the new 'Adopt a Pub' scheme could help to increase these numbers to make 2005 the biggest generic pub campaign so far!

To adopt a pub, consumers just have to decide on which of their local pubs they would like to adopt and order a free National Pubs Week promotional pack from CAMRA. This will be posted to the consumer who then delivers it to their local pub, encouraging the licensee to organise some events.

National Pubs Week packs include a variety of promotional items and advice including 'Empty belly' posters to promote the pubs National Pub Week events, balloons, pump clip crowners, free pub quiz and advice on running pub quizzes, competition beer mats that offer the chance of winning a fantastic digital camera worth £350 and advice on running and promoting pub events in National Pubs Week.

The promotional packs can be ordered by phone 01727 867201, email (samantha.jones@camra.org.uk) or through the National Pubs Week website www.pubsweek.org (see link below).