Regional Cider Pub of the Year
In November the Greater London Cider Pub of the Year award was presented to the Owl & The Pussycat in Northfields. The photo shows Ian Parker and Paul Nock from the pub (centre) with their award, with
CAMRA’s Regional Cider Co-ordinator Ian White (left) and Stephen Gilmour, West Middlesex branch cider representative, (right). The pub is also home to Marko Paulo and Ealing Brewing beers.
Cider Festival – advance notice
It is hoped to run this year’s London Regional one day cider festival on Saturday 25 April. The venue will, as before, be the Rocket Van Studios in Brandon Street, just south of the Elephant and Castle. It will be open from 12pm until 9pm. We hope to have around 30 ciders and perries on offer, plus food and refreshments.
National Club of the Year competition
Congratulations to the Orpington Liberal Club on reaching the final four of CAMRA’s national Club of the Year competition. This is their fourth time as a finalist, following 2014, 2016 and 2019. The club is run by a committee of cask beer enthusiasts and features local brewers and micros. Up to five cask beers are usually available, including a stout or porter, plus a changing range of real ciders and perries. The club runs beer festivals twice a year and holds ‘Meet the Brewer’ evenings. It often has live music and hosts the Orpington Jazz Club. A current CAMRA or National Union of Liberal Clubs membership card will allow you entry.
Top Pocket!
A pub that was opened by its current management last spring has won North London’s Winter Pub of the Season award, ahead of hundreds of real ale pubs in the branch area. The pub in question is the Pocket in Canonbury (N1 2AS). John Cryne from the branch said, “The pub closed in 2021 and we thought that might be the last time we saw it operating as a pub, so we were delighted when we heard that Peter Holt was going to take it over. Peter owns the multi-award winning Southampton Arms in Kentish Town and this pub follows the same ethos. No televisions or piped music but there is a piano!” John added, “Like the Southampton, the Pocket has an emphasis on good beer and cider, with eight handpumps for cask beer and six ciders; all from independent producers. Similarly, it also has a small but select food range of pies, sausage rolls and cheese. Since opening in March, the feedback we have had from people has been amazing and I suspect that none of them will be surprised that the Pocket has been given this award.”
Joao Neves, the Pocket’s manager, is no stranger to pubs. He managed the Chesham Arms in Homerton before coming to the Pocket a month before it opened. “The development and fitting out was practically completed and my role was to do the bureaucracy!“ said Joao. The Chesham Arms is lauded for its welcoming neighbourhood feel and it was clear that Joao will mirror this atmosphere at the Pocket. When asked where the new pub name originated, he said, “Various people have different Ideas as to where the name came from. I think it’s because it’s small and attracts people from all walks of life. I’ve been impressed as to how many people who visit us get it.” Joao was clearly delighted to receive this award; he commented, “This was all what we were aiming for from the beginning. We are doing this because of real ale and our passion for it”.
The building dates from 1874. It acquired the name of Four Sisters after the four Misses Vincent who kept a coffee and confectionery shop there as early as 1905. By the 1930s it was a Courage Brewery pub and there are rumours that there was a brothel out at the back. It became a style bar called 25 Canonbury Lane before reverting to the Four Sisters in 2013. The full address is 25 Canonbury Lane N1 2AS. Opening hours are currently 12pm to 11pm Monday to Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday and 10.30pm on Sunday. The nearest station is Highbury & Islington (350 metres).
John Cryne
A memorable evening at the Black Dog Beer House
On the evening of 17 November, Richmond and Hounslow members celebrated the Black Dog winning the branch’s Pub of the Year award. The photo shows branch chairman Bob Gordon (right) presenting the certificate to Pete Brew, the landlord. Among a range of beers available were two brewed by Pete himself at the tiny in-house Fearless Nomad brewery: Fools Gold, a 4.7% ABV golden ale and Midnight Express, a Cascadian dark ale at an awe-inspiring 6.6% ABV, which delighted members (and many others!). It is rare for the two to be seen together. Pete and Ash acquired what was, in 2018, a basic back street boozer then called the Albany Arms and they have transformed it into a beacon of a community pub with excellent beers, food, and events, often organised by or with CAMRA. Once a Royal Brewery house and possibly the work of T H Nowell Parr, the pub is well worth visiting.
John Austin (who also took the photo)
Twickenham tasting
On Tuesday 16 December, a record turnout of 18 Richmond & Hounslow members thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated a Christmas beers tasting event at the William Webb Ellis in Twickenham (TW1 3RR), courtesy of operators JD Wetherspoon. The pub is a conversion of the former main Post Office and is named after the creator of the game of rugby football, although the story may be apocryphal. The event was facilitated by Clive Donaldson, the pub’s ale manager who is standing on the right in the photo. Eleven hand-picked Christmas ales were tasted and voted on, and all participants got a free pint of their favourite of the night. By a big margin, the winning beer was Sambrook’s Fireside, a smooth 5.2% ABV smoky porter. With thanks to John Austin for the photograph.
Damian Smeaton
Greenwich Borough Pub of the Year
In November, South East London branch presented the last of their four 2025 Area Pub of Year awards, this time to the Park Tavern at 45 Passey Place, Eltham (SE9 5DA), the winner for the Greenwich area. This former Truman’s pub, with its beautifully preserved exterior tiling and signage, has been run in a traditional style by the same family for many years, most recently by Kim James. In 2021 the family bought it from Stonegate, allowing the pub to become a free house, offering six changing cask beers. After fifteen years at the helm, Kim took a well earned retirement last year and left the pub in the capable hands of her two sons, Mitchell and Wilson. The certificate was presented by branch chair Andy Large to Mitchell James. The pub is an Asset of Community Value.
Steve Silcock
Richmond & Hounslow Beer Knowledge Quiz
Following the success of the inaugural event last year, Richmond & Hounslow branch will be holding a second Beer Knowledge Quiz on Tuesday 24 March. Last time, there were teams from CAMRA branches, breweries, pubs and private individuals, some 70 people in all. The deserving winners were Kingston & Leatherhead CAMRA Branch, who have vowed to defend their title! The event is open to all and don’t worry if you can’t field a complete team (maximum four people). We can help make up teams on the day.
The quiz will include questions on all things beer related, from brewing to pubs and even a music round featuring theme tunes from famous beer adverts! The winning team will receive an engraved trophy, signed copies of Jeff Evans’ book ‘So You Want to be a Beer Expert’ and a case of The Naked Ladies beer from our sponsors, Twickenham Fine Ales. The venue, as before, is the Black Dog Beer House as above. The pub is not usually open on Tuesdays but is opening just for our quiz, with a selection of beer-themed food and a pint of Fearless Nomad or other cask ale included in the ticket price. The entry fee for the event is £5 per head. Please register your entry as early as possible to social@rh.camra.org or call Bruce Blackman on 07879 412332.
John Austin
Back to the future!’
On 12 January 2026 members of the former South West Essex branch met on 12 January at the Mawney Arms in Romford to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the foundation there of the original Romford & District Branch.
Stan Tompkins
On the occasion of his 80th birthday on 12 January, I would like to salute my good friend and colleague Stan. Stan has dealt with our postal subscriptions ever since the eighth edition in November 1979. Consequently, his name has probably appeared in the magazine more than anyone else’s. Stan has also made many other contributions to CAMRA over the years, not least working at beer festivals. The description ‘stalwart’ is more than appropriate. The other members of the editorial team send him their very best wishes and our thanks for his sterling service.