so it was! a favourite of harold and cuddly ken apparently
Yes, Federation Bitter was served in bars within the House of Commons, including the Strangers' Bar. It was supplied to Parliament for many years, beginning in 1966 after North-East Labour MPs gave it their backing.
Key facts about Federation Bitter in the House of Commons:
"Fed Special" was the first Federation brand to be supplied and remained the House's best-seller. It was noted as a favourite of both Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Tory Kenneth Clarke.
The beer was available in the Strangers' Bar, where signs were even displayed advertising it as "Fed Special Keg, as served in the House of Commons".
The beer's presence in Parliament was a point of regional pride for some MPs.
An Early Day Motion was tabled in Parliament in 2005 specifically noting the replacement of Young's Ordinary Bitter with San Miguel lager in the Strangers' Bar, and referencing that Federation Bitter had been put on tap in response to demand in 1990.
Other beers from the Federation Brewery served over the years included Federation Ordinary, High Level Brown Ale, Pale Ale, and LCL lager.
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The past - another country......[more]