York Guides

Tetley's threatened with legal action
over £10,000 competition fiasco

EXCLUSIVE
BY NIGEL SCOTT
BUSINESS EDITOR (Leeds Today)

LEEDS brewery bosses are facing potential legal action over a competition fiasco which has left many of its entrants feeling bitter.
The Yorkshire Evening Post revealed last week how troubled brewed for drinks firm Tetley at the climax of its three-week £10,000 Golden Pint competition.
A series of clue cards were given away with every purchase of a pint of cask ale, brewed in Leeds.
They were meant to lead one lucky drinker to a "golden pint" - hidden in Trollers Gill, near Appletreewick – and the jackpot it represented.
But the brewery, owned by Danish giant Carlsberg, underestimated Yorkshire drinkers' intelligence and large numbers worked out the hiding place BEFORE the final clue was released.
Gaffe
To make matters worse, Tetley's then hid the pint the night before it should have done – letting one lucky winner find it before the deadline and leaving scores of other clue hunters furious.
The firm's embarrassing PR gaffe came to light after Neil Holloway, a Leeds-based business consultant who was one of those left high and dry by the company's change of plan, contacted the YEP.
A succession of others have now contacted the YEP to voice their anger at the brewery's "solution" to the problem.
And one, Bob Chaffer, a York-based civil servant, says he is currently taking legal advice with a view to launching action against the brewer.
Mr Chaffer, who lives near Malton and works for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), was one of the hunters thwarted by Tetley's decision to place the treasure before the promised time.
He told the YEP today: "I think Tetley's are on very dodgy ground. Clearly they are morally in the wrong and I believe they are also legally in the wrong as well.
"One of my friends is a judge. I have already spoken with him and he believes I may have a case. I am also speaking to solicitors about what has happened."
Mr Chaffer says he visited the Fountaine Inn at Linton with his wife on the day the final clue was meant to be revealed at 1pm.
He claims the man named by Tetley as the competition winner was in the pub before that time – with the golden pint in a bag.
He says a game of "cat and mouse" took place between the two of them after he contacted Tetley's to report the matter and was told "not to let the pint out of his sight".
Review
He added: "Since then I have contacted Carlsberg to ask them what they intend to do about it.
"At one stage they asked me what I would be happy with to settle the matter. Since then I have been told the matter is in the hands of their lawyers and to contact them."
"I think at the very least Tetley's should hold a free beer day for everyone they have let down."
Carlsberg UK claims the competition winner had fulfilled all the requirements and was therefore rightfully able to claim the prize.
The company said today: "Tetley's are sorry that some people feel disappointed at the outcome of the Golden Pint competition. The £10,000 prize has been awarded to Mr B Souter of Yorkshire who fulfilled all the requirements of the competition.
"Tetley's have received calls from people saying how much they enjoyed the Golden Pint competition. We are also aware of a number of complaints and are investigating the issues with a view to satisfactorily resolving matters.
"As with all competitions and promotions, Tetley's will review the mechanics and incorporate all learnings into future activity."