NATIONAL CLUB OF THE YEAR
Further to the list of finalists featured in the previous edition, I can now report that the overall winner was the Firs Club in Codsall, Staffordshire. It has a strong pedigree, having won the West Midlands regional award for three consecutive years. Unusually, it also features an in-house microbrewery. CAMRA’s Club of the Year coordinator, Phil Gregg, commented, “We’re delighted to be announcing a first-time winner and the Firs Club epitomises what’s great about UK venues like these and how important they are to their local communities.”
YOUNG MEMBERS’ EVENTS
- Wednesday 9 April: tour of Twickenham Fine Ales brewery. Ever wondered how beer is made? Why it is such a crafted product and needs such care and nurturing? Or just why it tastes so good? Well, find out on our Twickenham Fine Ales brewery tour. The tour lasts two hours, during which you will find out all about making beer and running a small brewery while drinking three pints and getting a branded glass to take home too. There is a charge but CAMRA Young Members will receive a 20% discount. Contact robinsummersmoore96@gmail.com for further details and the discount code (on-line booking is required).
- Saturday 24 May (2pm) Young Members group social at the Dulwich Beer Festival. We had such a good turnout and an even better time last year so we thought that we would do It again! See the advert on page 25 for details.
Navindh Baburam
BROMLEY BRANCH PUB AND CLUB OF THE YEAR
CAMRA’s Bromley branch have chosen the Cockpit in Chislehurst as their branch Pub of the Year for the third year in succession. The runner up was the One Inn the Wood in Petts Wood.
Also not for the first time and, as ever, well deserved, the branch Club of the Year award has gone to the Orpington Liberal Club. This is their thirteenth successive win. A CAMRA membership card will usually gain you admittance and you can expect to find up to five cask beers, often from local breweries.
EAST LONDON BRANCH AWARDS
CAMRA’s East London & City branch have announced their pub and club awards for 2025. Their Pub of the Year is Ye Olde Mitre in Hatton Garden. Their Cider Pub of the Year is the Chesham Arms in Homerton and the Club of the Year is an old favourite, the Leyton Orient Supporters Club. The winners now go forward to their respective Greater London regional competitions.
SOUTH EAST LONDON DISTRICT WINNERS
To decide on their branch pub of the year, CAMRA’s South East London branch first select winners from each of four districts within the branch. This year these are: SE1 postal district – The Royal Oak, Borough; Lambeth and Southwark (excluding SE1) – The Mayflower, Rotherhithe; Greenwich – The Park Tavern, Eltham and Lewisham – The Dog & Bell, Deptford. Winning a district award is an achievement in itself, so congratulations to them all. The members of the branch then go on to select a winner from these four but anyone voting is expected to visit all four pubs. That should however not be too arduous.
WEST LONDON BRANCH PUB OF THE YEAR
The competition was very close this year. The winner was the Cask Pub & Kitchen in Pimlico. The joint runners up, on equal points, were the Star Tavern in Belgravia and the Harp in Charing Cross. The Antelope in Belgravia was just a point behind. Congratulations are due to Fuller’s for three of their pubs being included in the top four.
NORTH LONDON BRANCH WINTER PUB OF THE SEASON
A hidden gem in Bloomsbury has finally been recognised. CAMRA’s North London branch has awarded its Winter Pub of the Season award to the Duke in Roger Street, Bloomsbury.
Branch chair Colin Coyne said, “Concealed down a back street, this pub is often overlooked but it’s a real gem. We are absolutely delighted to be making this award to the Duke for its beer and friendly ambience. This is in recognition to the great strides that Bill, Maddie and their team have made in the quality of their beer since they took over in 2023. The Duke is a pub that takes everyone by surprise. It’s Grade II listed and is an amazing example of an Art Deco interior that dates from 1938. It‘s a real rarity, showing what many inter-war pubs would have looked like. It’s worth popping into the pub, not just for the beer but to see the interior with the original private booths in the back bar, which are duplicated in the main bar with a fine selection of mirrors.” Bill, whose father is the landlord of the Old Red Lion on High Holborn, said he was delighted to receive the award and thanked CAMRA for their support in helping raising the profile of the pub
DESI PUB NIGHT
In February, members of CAMRA’s Richmond and Hounslow branch enjoyed some excellent Indian curries during a branch social at the Royal Albion in Hounslow.
Normally this very popular pub has no real ale available but the management very kindly imported some bottles of The Naked Ladies from Twickenham Fine Ales especially for us for the evening.
John Austin