Cropton Brewery, near Pickering, raises £20,000 for wounded soldiers

Cropton Brewery, near Pickering, is raising funds for the Yorkshire Regiment’s benevolent fund, which helps soldiers who have been injured in Afghanistan.

The Press revealed last year how Tadcaster brewery Samuel Smith’s was suing Cropton over the beer’s label, which is based on the emblem of the regiment.

Sam Smith’s claimed it was “confusingly similar” to the white rose which it had used as its trademark since the 1960, and claimed it has suffered actual or threatened loss or damage as a result of a trademark infringement.

However, the claim was disputed by Cropton, which argued that the rose was a common symbol and Samuel Smith’s was not entitled to any monopoly over its use, and also claimed some other Yorkshire breweries use the rose.

The matter is due to be heard at the High Court this summer, but in the meantime, the beer has still been raising funds for the regiment.

Nicholsons Pubs, part of the Mitchells & Butlers estate, sold 373 firkins – quarter barrels – of the beer as a guest ale at pubs across the chain during December, January and February, raising a total of £1,865.

A new version of the rose, coloured in bronze instead of white, went on the pump clips to ensure the chain faced no legal complications.

The biggest percentage of the sales were made at the chain’s pubs in York, including the Old White Swan in Goodramgate, and now manager Andy McCarthy has presented a cheque for the amount raised to representatives of the Yorkshire Regiment.

Phil Lee, owner of Cropton Brewery, said: “We were delighted that this beer was chosen by the team at Mitchells & Butler and Nicholsons.

“The support from the pub managers and their customers has enabled us to raise £1,865 in three months, which it was an honour to give to the benevolent fund.”

A brewery spokesman said the beer had now raised almost £20,000 for the fund.