Croydon & Sutton
Our Pub of the Year judging has been completed, with the Dark Horse in Selhurst being voted the winner for the Borough of Croydon and old favourite the Hope in Carshalton the winner in Sutton. The Dark Horse has gone through to the London regional competition.
East London & City
The Cock Tavern in Hackney has achieved the double of winning both our Pub of the Year and Cider Pub of the Year awards. The Cock has previously won Cider Pub of the Year on a number of occasions but this was the first time it has won Pub of the Year.
ELAC members visited the Cock during one of their jazz evenings and presented the awards when the bands took a break. Pictured is ELAC committee member James Watson presenting the awards to manager Joel Wood.
Andy Kinch
The Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival raises funds for the Speaker of Hackney’s charities which, this time, were the Hackney Food Bank, Hackney Marsh Partnership and the Pedro Club. The festival raised a total of £1,253.28. Pictured at this year’s presentation with the Speaker of Hackney, Councillor Sharon Patrick (centre), are, from left, Pete Giles, Dave Gilchrist, Steve Hall, Hugh Smith and Nick Collins of the organising committee.
The Festival will return to the Round Chapel from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 December this year.
With thanks to Dave Gilchrist for the photo.
Steve Hall
Enfield & Barnet
On 21 April the branch presented a certificate to our Pub of the Year for 2026, the Little Green Dragon in Winchmore Hill. Pictured are Richard the owner, Gulliver, a regular barman and Peter, our chairman.
On the night no fewer than six cask ales were available, including Libertalia Spring Dragon which Richard had jointly brewed with the brewery.
Brian Willis
North London
Our 2026 Cider Pub of the Year award went to last year’s runners-up, the Craft Beer Co in Covent Garden (WC1V 7AA). The manager, Benji, and his team were delighted and there were smiles all round when the certificate was handed over. David Healing, the branch’s cider representative explained why this pub won, “Offering a selection of flavours and strengths from a variety of producers, Craft Beer Co. Covent Garden bring real cider into central London and are worthy winners.” John Cryne from the branch added, “The pub stocks four real ciders on
handpumps plus two further ciders in the tap area. The selection regularly changes and they are all from independent cider producers, something that is not easy to find in the area.” The pub was rebuilt in 1961 as part of the Oasis swimming pool development and was acquired by Craft in 2014. As with many of their pubs, it offers a huge and regularly changing range of cask and other craft beers as well as cider. Being where it is, the pub is popular with theatre goers.
Richmond & Hounslow
The branch continues to try new events and to repeat some favourites. On Tuesday 24 March we held our second annual Beer Knowledge Quiz at the Black Dog in Brentford. Fourteen teams, both local and from as far away as Egham, competed for the coveted trophy and first prize of a case of The Naked Ladies, kindly donated by our friends at Twickenham Brewery. With thanks to Giulietta Cinque and Abbie from the Black Dog for the photo.
On Tuesday 21 April, fifteen of our members visited Fuller’s Brewery for a tour. Our excellent guide was able to answer some demanding questions from the group. Of course, some tasting had to be done in the famous Hock Cellar to complete the experience. The photo shows the group in front of England’s oldest wisteria.
Other forthcoming events include a pizza night, a tour by 267 bus, a visit to Harvey’s brewery and visits to London pubs of the year. For details, see our branch diary entry or our website, rh.camra.org.uk.
Damian Smeaton
South East London
Shirking has its rewards. At our May committee meeting, we presented our Lewisham Area Pub of the Year award to the Shirker’s Rest in New Cross (SE14 6PP). Opened four years ago in a former solicitors’ office opposite Goldsmiths University, the pub is a joint venture between popular local bloggers Deserter and pop-up pub specialists Camberwell Shark. The beer range includes up to four cask ales, among them a house bitter from Anspach & Hobday. The picture shows branch chair, Andy Large, presenting the certificate to Marta, the general manager, surrounded by pub staff, regulars and CAMRA branch members.
Steve Silcock
Watford and District
Our branch Pub of the Year is the Two Trees Micro in Watford. The branch offers its congratulations to Kat Perry and Michael Ash for winning the award for a second time.
West London
On a bright spring day the West London branch met up at the Bear in Paddington to present Jasmine and her all female team with their Pub of the Year certificate. We had a good turn out from the branch and were joined by Jon Huddart from the owners, the Craft Beer Company, as well as regional director, Ellie Eames, and Vesa, a visitor from Finland.
We also made a presentation to the Lyric in Soho, one of the runners-up and they are now finding room on the walls for their certificate.
The other runner up was the Harp in Charing Cross. Here, as well as their runners-up certificate, we presented a certificate to Paul Sims for his services to cask ale. Paul has now left the Harp, got married and moved to Grenada.
Wanda Piontek
West Middlesex
Our Club of the Year is the Questors’ Grapevine Club and the presentation is due to be held on 29 May (7pm). Our branch Pub of the Year is the Owl & The Pussycat in Northfields. The presentation will be on 18 June (7.30).
Epping Ongar Festival
The 2026 Epping Ongar Railway Real Ale Festival runs from 24 to 26 July 2026. It is a joint venture between EOR and CAMRA’s East London & City branch. This year we are celebrating 40 years of Network South East. There will be 90 cask ales and 13 ciders, plus live music every day. A steam engine and two vintage diesel locomotives will run between the stations, so you can ride in classic style while you sup. Beer and cider will be served at both North Weald and Ongar stations, as well as from the bars on the trains if you are thirsty while on the move. Our famous gin bar will return at Ongar station and, at North Weald, we have delicious food once again provided by Hopleaf. Join us for a unique day out, riding the rails and draining the casks!
Esme Bradbury
Peterborough Beer Festival
For those of you who might have withdrawal symptoms with there being no Great British Beer Festival this year, the organisers of the Peterborough Beer Festival have asked that I remind you of their event, to be held from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 August. This year they will be having a USA cask beer bar. The rail journey from London is around 45 minutes and the venue is walking distance from the station. For more information, go to https://pborobeerfest.camra.org.uk.
An award for London Drinker
At this year’s CAMRA Members’ Weekend, London Drinker received the runners up award in the Campaign’s Magazine of the Year competition. This isn’t quite as good as it sounds because it is fourth place after the gold, silver and bronze awards but any appreciation is welcome.