For the real-ale lovers of St Albans, the cartoon sketch of a pretty girl revealing her stocking tops while clutching a foaming pint of beer was just the job to promote their annual festival.
Not only did it celebrate the centenary of a local hosiery factory that employed hundreds of female staff but, by showing a woman with a beer glass, it demonstrated just how far the event – run by campaign group Camra – had come in shedding its male-dominated image.
More sensitive members of the real ale campaign, however, were outraged.
They claimed it was an ‘abomination’ and accused the local branch of being ‘hypocritical’ to display such ‘sexualised imagery’.
One suggested using a picture of Last Of The Summer Wine battleaxe Nora Batty in her wrinkled stockings to promote the link with Ballito mill in the Hertfordshire town.
Robin Hall wrote on Facebook: ‘I think nowadays it is disrespectful to women. The organisers have done themselves no favours in selecting this abomination of a logo.’
Furious Sarah Jane said: ‘It’s 2025, not 1975!’ There was more criticism on Camra’s Discourse website, where Alexandra Walton wrote: ‘This seems to be deliberately provocative by showing stocking tops.
‘It seems to be just a development of “sex sells” with a flimsy cover story. I’m sure there are better logos that could have been designed to commemorate the anniversary.
‘One of the most famous stocking-wearers was Nora Batty. Why not use a picture of her?’
To make the poster less controversial, organisers have now added the strapline: ‘Celebrating the centenary of Ballito Hosiery Mill, 1925-1970.’
Emily Ryans, the festival’s sponsorship manager, said: ‘To me this woman strikes an empowering pose and firmly challenges the stereotype that drinking pints of beer is just for men.
‘The character is designed to celebrate the important history of a factory that employed hundreds of local women and make the point that beer festivals, which have suffered from a traditionally male image, are open to all.’