8TH MARCH 2010
AllGates Director Ian Thorpe pulling a pint of California for Wigan MP Neil Turner.
Wigan ale gets the vote from MPs
Wigan pints are now being pulled in Parliament - Microbrewery AllGates is celebrating after an order was placed to supply the famous House of Commons Strangers Bar.
The prestigious order – for the hospitality suite where MPs entertain guests – came about following a conversation between AllGates director Ian Thorpe and Wigan MP Neil Turner at the Wigan Business Awards Dinner last November.
Mr Turner is among those parliamentary members able to enjoy the Wigan tipple, although AllGates' bosses have only just discovered that its California ale is in fact making its second appearance at the House.
It turns out that unbeknown to them, Makerfield MP Ian McCartney managed to get it in as a guest beer last year.
California is described as straw-coloured ale with a berry/herbal aroma, which was named after the California Pit at Hindley – at one stage the area's biggest employer.
Mr Thorpe said: "I was amazed that we'd had beer in the Commons previously, and that we hadn't even realised!
"The previous order was placed direct from the Commons through one of our distributors, so we didn't know where it was destined! The first cask had gone down a treat, and had sold out within 24 hours. I think it's great that two of our local MPs have supported our microbrewery in such a tangible way."
