News
Here is the latest news from our branch area (and sometimes from further afield!).
- Great British Beer Festival Winter 2025
Friday 8 November 2024
The Great British Beer Festival Winter 2025 will be held at the iconic Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham. This former steelworks provides a perfect backdrop for an incredible selection of cask ales, craft beers, traditional ciders, and perries. Don’t miss out on what promises to be the hottest beer festival this Winter - tickets on sale now at https://winter.gbbf.org.uk/
Wednesday 12 February 15:00 - 17:00 (Trade Session) Wednesday 12 February 17:00 - 23:00 (Public Session) Thursday 13 February 12:00 - 23:00 Friday 14 February 12:00 - 23:00 Saturday 15 February 12:00 - 23:00 Last admission will be 40 minutes before closing and all bars will close 30 minutes before closing.
- Members' Weekend 2025 - Torquay
Friday 8 November 2024
11 - 13 April 2025 Members' Weekend, AGM & Conference 2025 will be held at the Riviera Centre, Torquay. CAMRA’s Members’ Weekend, AGM & Conference is held annually in April and is open to all CAMRA members. Not only is it a chance to discuss motions at Conference, it also gives members the opportunity to socialise in the onsite bar, attend information sessions and explore the beer scene of different cities around the UK. To register and for more information, click on https://camra.org.uk/members-weekend (CAMRA login required).
- 4th Bob Steel memorial walk - 17 August 2024
Thursday 22 August 2024
On Saturday 21 August a good number of branch members and some from neighbouring branches joined us for the traditional Bob Steel memorial walk. The walk was based on walk #16 in the third edition of London Pub Walks (Southwark & Borough). We visited the Rake, the Market Porter, the Lord Clyde, the Royal Oak, the George, the Southwark Tavern and the Sheaf. Some of us also visited the Kings Arms, Borough. Plenty of good and interesting beers were enjoyed. Below: Rake, Royal Oak, Southwark Tavern.
- Visit to Lewes - 29 June 2024
Monday 1 July 2024
On Saturday 29 June, we enjoyed a visit to Lewes, including an excellent tour of Harvey's Brewery, after which we visited 6 pubs, the Gardener's Arms, the John Harvey Tavern, the Elephant & Castle, Lewes Arms, Brewer's Arms, and the Lansdown Arms. We were joined by members of Bromley branch and Brighton & South Downs branch. Photos - Roger Ford.
- Croydon borough Pub of the Year 2024 presentation
Wednesday 19 June 2024
On 18 June, branch chair David Lands presented the certificate to the Claret & Ale, Addiscombe, Croydon borough Pub of the Year. The certificate was received on behalf of the pub by Charlie Reid, owner.
- Sutton borough Pub of the Year 2024 presentation
Friday 31 May 2024
On 30 May, branch Chair David Lands presented the certificate to the Hope, Carshalton, Sutton borough Pub of the Year. The certificate was received on behalf of the pub by Joe Ford, senior bar staff.
- Handpump Hijack campaign
Thursday 9 May 2024
Watch out for fake handpumps
CAMRA's ‘Handpump Hijack’ campaign is concerned with the misleading dispense of beer, in reaction to the launch of ‘Fresh Ale’ by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company. At present, the ‘Fresh Ale’ range are keg versions of three of CMBC’s cask beers: - Wainwright Amber - Wainwright Gold, and - Hobgoblin IPA
These will be served to consumers through handpumps on the bar. CMBC have stated that they intend to increase the number of ‘Fresh Ale’ versions from their portfolio of cask beers.
It may be difficult to identify where misleading dispense is taking place. CMBC have said that their ‘Fresh Ales’ should be labelled as ‘brewery conditioned’ on the pump clip and will be served from a cask handpump. CAMRA does not yet have any examples of such pump clips in use.
‘Fresh Ales’ may appear in Stonegate pubs as well as Marston's pubs.
Otter Brewery also has a ‘Fresh Ale’, which is a keg beer. This is served from a font tap at the bottom of a tall silver handle that is designed to look like a modern handpump. Otter have said that they will make changes to the font to reduce its height and differentiate it from a handpump. However, if you find the beer being served via the tap with the long silver handle, please report it to us, as this counts as 'misleading dispense'.
If in doubt, always politely ask a member of staff whether a beer is a keg or a cask conditioned beer. You may need to speak to a manager or the licensee to get a clear answer. If you do come across ‘Fresh Ale’ at a pub, please: - email ku.gro.armac.nodyorc@sbup with the details, and - if possible, take a photo of the pump clip and include that in your email
Thank you.
- (PUB)lic House - Turf Projects
Monday 15 April 2024
A film by Phoebe and Roger Wagner. https://vimeo.com/925880528
Pubs across Croydon have been boarded up, abandoned and left to be empty. Phoebe remembers growing up in them. Roger (her Dad) (CAMRA member and member of the 'Save the Glamorgan' campaign) remembers playing music in them since the early 90s. Together they go on a pub crawl across Croydon asking 3 questions: “What happened in these pubs, what are they now and what could they become?”
The film was compiled through interviews and workshops, see their exploration of the music, stories and sounds that populate(d) these pubs.
This film premiered at a screening and manifesto workshop. With beer and chats after, we created a manifesto zine to establish our hopes for our local to hold the council accountable. This will be sent to council members, landlords and key influencers in the legacy of these buildings, with hopes to make them (pub)lic houses again.
‘(Pub)lic House’ was one of the artist projects within Turf Projects’ latest commission series Desire Paths, as part of This Is Croydon, London Borough of Culture 2023.