North Surrey

News

  • LONDON DRINKER FEBRUARY 2025 Wednesday 29 January 2025

    The latest edition of London Drinker Magazine will be circulated to some local pubs and clubs once collected from Kingston. If you’d like to view an online version, see London Drinker February - March 2025.

  • NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON PUB CLOSURES Monday 2 December 2024

    An interesting opinion piece by Adrian Chiles that appeared in the Groniad, as Private Eye calls it. As he put it 'I’m comforted by the thought that just around the corner there’s a public place with people sitting around chatting’, see We've lost 20,000 pubs in the last 40 years. Great to see national media showing an interest.

  • WHAT IS A CRAFT BREWERY ANYWAY? Tuesday 22 October 2024

    The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) have commissioned a survey into what consumers consider to be craft or independent breweries, a very good question. This has been reported on in the national media, which is great coverage for real ale. To find out more, please see Indie Brewers ditch Craft Beer tag.

  • GBBF - GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL 2025 Tuesday 15 October 2024

    Discover the Great British Beer Festival 2025 at the NEC Birmingham – Bigger, Bolder, Better!

    The Great British Beer Festival is back and in 2025, we’re taking things to the next level! For the first time ever, the Great British Beer Festival will be held at the iconic NEC in Birmingham, the UK’s premier events venue. This exciting new location means more space, more brews, and even more opportunities to celebrate the best in British and international beer. For more information, see GBBF the Great British Beer Festival.

  • HAPPY MAN BEER FESTIVAL REPORT Friday 4 October 2024

    We held an enjoyable Branch Social at the third beer festival of the year, at the award winning Happy Man in Englefield Green on Thursday 3rd October 2024. Main stillage was in rear garden, which was paved and covered by a heated awning. Landlord James had some last minute hiccups with beer deliveries, so Beer List October 2024 was heavily edited. Still some great ales, and it was quite enjoyable watching a stream of toga wearing students drifting in and out. Hope they were wearing their vests, as mum used to say.

  • CAMRA DEFINITION OF PUBS & CLUBS Monday 30 September 2024

    The recent developments around Whitbread, Premier Inns and adjacent branded pubs, have highlighted the importance of the Government incorporating a pub definition into planning law. As matters stand, there are zones of confusion both between pubs and restaurants and pubs and hotels. After much research and consultation, CAMRA have revised it's definition of pubs and clubs.

    In summary, the CAMRA definition of a Pub is that the licensed premises must: (1) be open to and welcome the general public without requiring membership or residency and without charging for admission* (2) allow drinking on the premises without requiring food to be consumed. *Except when entertainment is provided on limited occasions when an entry charge may apply. You will note that definition no longer requires at least one draught beer, due to changes in way many pubs and pubs now function.

    If you have a spare 10 minutes, full definition is see CAMRA Definition of Pubs & Clubs 2024 which is within Members area of our national website.

  • CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2025 PUBLISHED Thursday 26 September 2024

    The UK’s best-selling beer and pub guide is celebrating its 52nd edition with not one but two covers featuring two of the UK’s most well known if mythical locals. The Guide, which surveys 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinker’s guide for those seeking the best pints in the nation’s pubs. Available now via Good Beer Guide 2025. Also available in webapp form.

    All pubs included are selected by local CAMRA members. An enjoyable task, why not join in for next edition? See Beer Scoring and GBG for more info.

  • CASK ALE - ALL THE WAY FROM THE USofA Friday 20 September 2024

    Thames Side Brewery have received some very special one off CASK ALES all the way from the US of A. These would normally have gone to GBBF but following it's cancellation, have been distributed around UK organisers of NERAX, the New England Real Ale Exhibition in Boston, of which Thames Side Brewery is one. The six casks include three different ones from Backbeat Brewing in Beverley, Massachusetts, with whom Andy has done several collaborations, and three from other New England breweries.

    The transport costs and taxes are substantial, so beer price will reflect this, even though Andy basically knocking it out at cost price to him. This will be a unique opportunity as US brewers generally only produce cask beers twice a year, for NERAX & GBBF, and will be worth paying for. They will be on as special guest beers at Thames Side Brewery so keep an eye out.

  • WALTON VILLAGE BEERFEST REPORT Saturday 14 September 2024

    We had a good turnout at the The Walton Village pub Beer, Whisky and Cheese Festival, with not all of our group in the photo. Several excellent ales were tried, as well as some interesting cheese and grape combinations. There was no entry fee, and ales were £2.50 a half, a reasonable price for ales in this neck of the woods. Why show the price per half rather than pint? Well the Siren Craft Imperial Coffee Stout was 9%, very nice, see Walton Village PubFest Beer List, but a pint will have been too much for some. I don't think anyone tried any of the interesting sounding whiskies, maybe next time!

  • PUBS - USE IT OR LOSE IT Thursday 12 September 2024

    CAMRA promotes responsible drinking and recognises the harmful effects of excessive levels of alcohol consumption. Fundraising and awareness campaigning from charities which seeks to reduce harmful alcohol consumption should be welcomed. However, we do not believe that these present a complete solution to harmful drinking, as they remove trade from pubs and clubs, where the sale and consumption of alcohol is controlled and in a community setting.

    We campaign to ensure that consumers are presented with a balanced view on the debate around alcohol harm and responsible drinking and, and believe pubs and social clubs are the safest place to drink. Given the financial pressures currently faced by the trade, it is particularly important that consumers visit and support their local pubs and clubs, where there also lots of non-alcohol alternatives.