ALE enthusiasts are launching a campaign to preserve Morrells pubs with unusual or historic features by getting them declared as listed buildings.

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), is taking the step to prevent watering holes throughout the Thames Valley being "butchered" by developers.

It follows a decision by the brewery in St Thomas Street, Oxford, to sells off its business including 132 tenanted pubs.

Now Camra is asking its members in Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties to conduct a massive survey to determine which pubs have features that are worth preserving. They will be supplied with booklets from English Heritage advising them what to look out for.

Mike Benner, the organisation's head of campaigns, said: "It could be anything from a bar, a floor or internal features such an old ingle nook fireplace."

Local branches are then being encouraged to write to English Heritage making a case for particular buildings to be declared as listed.

Mr Benner added: "What we're in fear of is that these pubs will be sold off to pub chains. All the investment in the pub market is towards themed pubs but that kills the unique quality of a British pub that makes it so special.

"We want to protect them against being butchered."

The organisation also intends to make the future of Morrells a major issue at its Great British Beer Festival in Olympia next week.

Visitors will be encouraged to sample a Morrells pint and sign a petition calling on the company to sell off its business as a going concern.

As reported in yesterday's Oxford Mail, the city council's planning department is to apply for a preservation order to be placed on the St Thomas Street brewery to stop the building being demolished.

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