Reminder for CAMRA members
The Campaign’s Members’ Weekend, including the national AGM, takes place this year from 17 to 19 April in St Albans. It’s not too late to register. Go to https://camra.org.uk/members-weekend. If you just want to go for the day, it’s less than 30 minutes by Thameslink from St Pancras. The organising branch, South Hertfordshire, have set up a series of guides and events called St Albans: City of Ale. This is available not just for the duration of the Members’ Weekend and is open to non-members. Go to the website https://stalbanscityofale.org.uk/.
National Club of the Year
The winner of CAMRA’s National Club of the Year award for 2025 is the Billingham Catholic Club on Teesside (TS23 2RU). Housed in a Victorian former Roman Catholic school and run by volunteers, the club has no current direct links with the Catholic church. It is a long running entry in the Good Beer Guide and has a reputation for its live music.
Bromley branch awards
The Bromley branch Pub of the Year for 2026 is the Cockpit in Chislehurst. This is their fourth successive win and, last year, they were runners-up in the Regional Pub of the Year competition. Bromley’s 2026 runner-up was the One Inn the Wood micropub in Petts Wood.
The branch’s Club of the Year once again is the Orpington Liberal Club. One of the four finalists in the national competition last year, it has won the Greater London Regional competition on a number of occasions.
Congratulations to all concerned.
East London & City awards
Congratulations to the Cock Tavern in Hackney on achieving the double of being both the Pub of the Year and Cider Pub of the Year for 2026. This is the first time that this has happened while the current committee members have been active.
The branch’s Club of the Year is, once again, the Leyton Orient Supporters Club. Wasting no time, the presentation was made at one of the club’s recent ale nights. The photograph shows Steve Hall from the branch [left presenting the certificate to Mark Harrison [right] from the club, alongside several of the club’s volunteers. With thanks to Dave Gilchrist for the photograph.
These winners will go forward as our entries in the respective CAMRA Greater London competitions. Many thanks to everyone who took part in the process, whether by nominating pubs or by ranking the finalists.
Steve Hall
Kingston & Leatherhead Pub of the Season
The branch’s Winter Pub of the Season is the Barley Mow in Epsom. It is a Fuller’s tenanted pub whose beer range has increased over the past few months and they now have access to a selection of guest beers. The presentation was made on 29 January.
South East London Pubs of the Year
The branch has completed the first stage of its Pub of the Year competition and has chosen its four area winners. The winner for the SE1 area is the uniquely named Hand & Marigold in Bermondsey Street. For the Lambeth and Southwark (excluding SE1) area, the winner is the historic Mayflower in Rotherhithe. For Greenwich, it is the Green Goddess in Blackheath Standard while for Lewisham it is the Shirker’s Rest micropub in New Cross. Our congratulations to all four. In due course, each will be presented with a framed certificate. The voting to decide an overall winner is in hand and the result should be announced in the next edition.
News from Norwich
Here is some good news about a CAMRA beer festival that I know is a favourite among London drinkers. The renovation works to the historic St Andrew’s and Blackfriars’ Halls, having taken longer than expected, are now complete and the Norwich Beer Festival will return to its traditional home in October. Full details will follow. The train journey is just short of two hours.