New ale name causes upset for families' of Beachy Head dead

It is sadly notorious as a suicide spot and now Beachy Head is back in the news, all because of a new festive ale called 'Beachy Head Christmas Jumper', the latter word being often used to describe those that jump to their deaths.

The reaction to the launch of the new drink, created by Beachy Head Brewery – whose other ales include the South Downs Ale and the Legless Rambler - has been greeted angrily by families of those who have taken their lives at the spot near Eastbourne.

Roger Green, head brewer at Beachy Head, could not be reached for comment, but he told he told the Eastbourne Gazette: 'There is no evil intention.

'This started with a pump clip showing Father Christmas in a big fluffy jumper but when we produced labels that did not reproduce because we have a standard shot on our labels.

'It was purely a running joke on the famous woolly jumper. (The link to Beachy Head) was unintentional certainly.

"Some people have noticed it and I am sure they will not be the last. We are reluctant to change the name but we definitely did not intend to offend anyone.

The Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team said that they regretted the choice of name saying that the team was a "suicide intervention team which is committed to seeing suicide come to an end at Beachy Head.

"We are seeing increasing numbers of people coming to the Head who are struggling with serious difficulties often due to current economic uncertainties.

"Beachy Head is also a place of outstanding beauty and we would encourage a more positive message in the name of the locally made ale, rather than cause genuine upset amongst those who have lost a friend or relative at Beachy Head."