{"id":6358,"date":"2026-05-27T09:18:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T09:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=6358"},"modified":"2026-05-27T09:18:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T09:18:22","slug":"camra-news-and-events-may-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/05\/27\/camra-news-and-events-may-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"CAMRA news and events – May 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Croydon & Sutton<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Pub of the Year judging has been completed, with the Dark Horse<\/strong><\/a> in Selhurst being voted the winner for the Borough of Croydon and old favourite the Hope in Carshalton the winner in Sutton.\u00a0 The Dark Horse has gone through to the London regional competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

East London & City<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cock Tavern<\/a><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andy Kinch<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pig\u2019s Ear Beer & Cider Festival raises funds for the Speaker of Hackney\u2019s charities which, this time, were the Hackney Food Bank, Hackney Marsh Partnership and the Pedro Club.  The festival raised a total of \u00a31,253.28.  Pictured at this year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Festival will return to the Round Chapel from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 December this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With thanks to Dave Gilchrist for the photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve Hall<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enfield & Barnet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 21 April the branch presented a certificate to our Pub of the Year for 2026, the Little Green Dragon<\/strong><\/a> in Winchmore Hill.\u00a0 Pictured are Richard the owner, Gulliver, a regular barman and Peter, our chairman.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On the night no fewer than six cask ales were available, including Libertalia Spring Dragon which Richard had jointly brewed with the brewery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brian Willis<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

North London<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our 2026 Cider Pub of the Year award went to last year\u2019s 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\u2019s 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<\/em>.”  John Cryne from the branch added, \u201cThe pub stocks four real ciders on<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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<\/em>.\u201d  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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richmond & Hounslow<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The branch continues to try new events and to repeat some favourites. \u00a0On Tuesday 24 March we held our second annual Beer Knowledge Quiz at the Black Dog<\/strong><\/a> in Brentford. \u00a0Fourteen 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.\u00a0 With thanks to Giulietta Cinque and Abbie from the Black Dog for the photo.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
‘The Lucky Winners’<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On Tuesday 21 April, fifteen of our members visited Fuller\u2019s 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\u2019s oldest wisteria.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Other forthcoming events include a pizza night, a tour by 267 bus, a visit to Harvey\u2019s brewery and visits to London pubs of the year.  For details, see our branch diary entry or our website, rh.camra.org.uk.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damian Smeaton<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

South East London<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shirking has its rewards.\u00a0 At our May committee meeting, we presented our Lewisham Area Pub of the Year award to the Shirker\u2019s Rest<\/a><\/strong> in New Cross (SE14 6PP).\u00a0 Opened four years ago in a former solicitors\u2019 office opposite Goldsmiths University, the pub is a joint venture between popular local bloggers Deserter and pop-up pub specialists Camberwell Shark.\u00a0 The beer range includes up to four cask ales, among them a house bitter from Anspach & Hobday.\u00a0 The picture shows branch chair, Andy Large, presenting the certificate to Marta, the general manager, surrounded by pub staff, regulars and CAMRA branch members.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Steve Silcock<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watford and District<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our branch Pub of the Year is the Two Trees Micro<\/strong><\/a> in Watford. \u00a0The branch offers its congratulations to Kat Perry and Michael Ash for winning the award for a second time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

West London<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a bright spring day the West London branch met up at the Bear <\/a><\/strong>in Paddington to present Jasmine and her all female team with their Pub of the Year certificate.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Wanda (right) makes the presentation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We also made a presentation to the Lyric<\/a><\/strong> in Soho, one of the runners-up and they are now finding room on the walls for their certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The other runner up was the Harp in Charing Cross.\u00a0 Here, as well as their runners-up certificate, we presented a certificate to Paul Sims for his services to cask ale.\u00a0 Paul has now left the Harp, got married and moved to Grenada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wanda Piontek<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

West Middlesex<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Club of the Year is the Questors\u2019 Grapevine Club and the presentation is due to be held on 29 May (7pm). \u00a0Our branch Pub of the Year is the Owl & The Pussycat in Northfields.\u00a0 The presentation will be on 18 June (7.30).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Epping Ongar Festival<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 Epping Ongar Railway Real Ale Festival runs from 24 to 26 July 2026.\u00a0 It is a joint venture between EOR and CAMRA\u2019s East London & City branch.\u00a0 This year we are celebrating 40 years of Network South East.\u00a0 There will be 90 cask ales and 13 ciders, plus live music every day.\u00a0 \u00a0A steam engine and two vintage diesel locomotives will run between the stations, so you can ride in classic style while you sup.\u00a0 \u00a0Beer 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.\u00a0 Our famous gin bar will return at Ongar station and, at North Weald, we have delicious food once again provided by Hopleaf.\u00a0 \u00a0Join us for a unique day out, riding the rails and draining the casks!\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esme Bradbury<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peterborough Beer Festival<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An award for London Drinker<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this year\u2019s CAMRA Members\u2019 Weekend, London Drinker<\/em> received the runners up award in the Campaign\u2019s Magazine of the Year competition.  This isn\u2019t quite as good as it sounds because it is fourth place after the gold, silver and bronze awards but any appreciation is welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6359,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camra-news","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6358"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6358\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6370,"href":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6358\/revisions\/6370"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}