CHANGES AT THE TOP
CAMRA’s national executive have elected Ash Corbett-Collins, previously the vice-chairman, as the Campaign’s new chairman. We send him our congratulations accordingly. Ash has been a member of the NE since 2018 and has held key positions on the national People, Digital Futures and Commercial committees.
Ash’s place as vice-chairman has been taken by an old friend, Gillian Hough, whom many readers may remember from her time in the East London & City branch. Our congratulations go to Gill as well..
THE GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL
The Live Beer Experience is back! There will be a Great British Beer Festival in 2025. The dates have been confirmed as Tuesday 5 to Saturday 9 August. There is however one major change: it is moving! The new venue will be the NEC Birmingham, the first time that it has been held in the West Midlands since 1983. The event promises to be bigger, better and more interactive than ever but will still bring you the best in British and international brewing all under one roof, along with real ciders and perries and even a cocktail bar. As usual, there will also be plenty of entertainment, food stalls, pub games and CAMRA’s Discovery Bar. Tickets are available now, with discounts for CAMRA members. For more information visit here.
THE FINAL FOUR
Further to the list of regional winners in the last edition, the following have been selected as the finalists for judging in CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year competition:
- Black Horse, Preston (PR1 2EJ)
- Three B’s, Bridlington (YO15 2DS)
- Little Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill (N21 2AD)
- Bailey Head, Oswestry (SY11 1PZ)
We are, of course, delighted to see a London pub included and we send our congratulations to Richard Reeves accordingly. Just to get this far is a remarkable achievement. Best wishes go also to Duncan and Grace of the Bailey Head and formerly of the Orpington Liberal Club. The winner will be announced in the new year.
NATIONAL CIDER PUB OF THE YEAR
This year’s CAMRA National Cider and Perry Pub of the Year is That Beer Place, a modern bar in Chester. The presentation took place on Tuesday 1 October as part of the Campaign’s Cider and Perry Month. The Judges praised the management and staff’s extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for cider and perry. They regularly stage events with independent UK cider makers and industry experts, including the monthly Chester Cider Club that aims to foster a community of cider lovers who are open to exploring new flavours.
Among the three runners up were Greater London Regional Cider Pub of the Year, the Hop Inn in Hornchurch. Their national runners up certificate was presented to them on 7 November by CAMRA’s Regional Cider Co-ordinator, Ian White.
JOHN YOUNG MEMORIAL AWARD
As previewed in the previous edition, the presentation to Paddy Johnson of Windsor & Eton Brewery took place at their taproom on Sunday 3 November.
We are pleased to say that Torquil Sligo-Young was, once again, able to present the award. He was supported by CAMRA Greater London Regional Director Ellie Eames. Happily, three previous winners were also able to attend.
GREATER LONDON CLUB OF THE YEAR
This year’s CAMRA Greater London Regional Club of the Year is the Orpington Liberal Club.
This is their first win since 2019. The certificate was presented to the club’s Peter Muldoon by Regional Director Ellie Eames on 10 October. CAMRA members may use the club on production of a current membership card.
CIDER AT THE MITRE
The Mitre in St Mary’s Grove, Richmond has been voted their Cider Pub of the Year 2024 by CAMRA’s Richmond & Hounslow branch. The Mitre is an independent pub with a good range of beers as well as its award winning ciders.
The pub features regularly in the Good Beer Guide and can be found in both the 2024 and 2025 editions. Pictured is Bob Gordon, the branch chairman, presenting the award to landlord Chris French. With thanks to George Gimber for the photo.
John Austin.
SOUTH WEST LONDON CELEBRATES
CAMRA’s South West London branch celebrated its 50th anniversary on 23 September with a very well attended party at the Railway, Streatham Common.
A good time was had by all, assisted by a very kind donation from Sambrook’s Brewery.
FAREWELL TO PAT
On 9 October, the branch said goodbye to one of its longest serving publicans, Pat Sollis of the Windmill in Mitcham.
Pat was presented with a certificate to mark the occasion. Pat is taking a well earned rest but happily retains the lease of the pub and has recruited a manager to keep it going. The pub was recently listed as an Asset of Community Value, although the freeholders are understood to be appealing against it.
With thanks to Mike Flynn for both photos.
DULWICH HAMLET BEER FESTIVAL AWARD
The winner of the Perry and Cider of the Festival award at this year’s Dulwich Hamlet Beer Festival was Nuthurst Orchard Perry. In early September, members of CAMRA’s South East London branch visited their orchard near Horsham to present the award. It is a large single orchard, originally a field, which in 2009 was planted with a range of different trees, including a mix of dessert apples, cider apples, perry pears, cherries, plums and the odd quince, walnut and mulberry.
The cider apples are mainly English (Browns, Black Dabinett, Kingston Black, Stoke Red, Harry Masters Jersey, Dabinett) but there is also a section of French ones (Bedan, Bisquet (conical ones), Michelin, Binet Rouge, St Martin, Petit Jaune) plus well known perry pears: Hendre Huffcap, Green Horse, Thorn and Oldfield. We had a good afternoon walking around the orchard and tasting a variety of apples and then sampling the cider and perry in the cidery while exchanging tales of visiting different cider makers; it was a good networking session.
Ian White