Brakspear Pubco have acquired the King's Arms in Egham from Grosvenor Inns. This very much a food led pub, but does normally have two cask ales on, often including an interesting one. Fingers crossed cask ale will continue to feature. See Morning Advertiser - Brakspear acquires three Surrey pubs. for more information.

Our thanks to the 15 Branch members out of our 300+ membership who attended our 2026 AGM at Thames Side Brewery in Staines on Saturday 21st March. We were pleased to have our volunteer Regional Director Paul Saunders, and Regional Brewery guru Roy Bray participating, and grateful to Andy Hayward proprietor of Thames Side Brewery for hosting our meeting. We completed our AGM business swiftly ('at pace' as HM Government repeatedly like to say) and moved on to an excellent free buffet provided by Andy. It was also the second day of his 3rd Cider Festival, an added bonus to the several ales available, including an excellent dark mild. Only down side is that we are still running without a Branch Secretary. Organising and recording meetings is one aspect of job, but more importantly working with Chair and giving a different perspective and ideas. Please Contact Branch if you'd like to find out more without obligation, or just pop along to Meeting.

The latest edition of News & Ale is now hitting pubs in the area so look out. If you just can't wait, News & Ale Issue 157 will take you to the online version.

Amidst all the news of closures, good too see a couple reopening. Hope this trend can be repeated more locally. See Cornwall Pubs Reopening on the Guardian website for more.

The local MP for Runnymede & Weybridge Constituency Dr. Ben Spencer organised a local Runnymede and Weybridge Constituency Pub of the Year based on nomination by local residents. The 2025 winner was the White Hart in New Haw. Hopefully this initiative will be backed by efforts to support pubs using his parliamentary office.

My thanks to for all who got involved trying to save the Forester's Arms in Egham. Due to a number of objections, the Foresters Arms Planning Application for change of use and conversion to flats went before the Full Planning Committee of Runnymede Borough Council on Wednesday 22nd October 2025. After a lengthy discussion, the application was approved by 8 votes to 4 against, with 1 abstention. Our thanks in particular to Local Councillor Isabel Mullens (Egham Residents) who argued strongly against application on grounds of retaining as a Community Asset and other matters, supported by Councillor Robert King (Labour Egham Hythe). Whilst still trading, it will no doubt be closing permanently in due course.