The PUBlic Affairs roundup is kicking off the new year with an update on what the Campaigns and Communications Team has been doing to fight for pubs, pints and people across Westminster, devolved parliaments and local government.

Here's their latest update.

https://wb.camra.org.uk/2025/01/17/public-affairs-round-up-january

Latest Ramsgate brewery newsletter

Ramsgate Brewery Newsletter - Beat the January Blues (.pdf)

The Bailey Head, Oswestry has been crowned CAMRA's National Pub of the Year 2025.

https://camra.org.uk/pubs/bailey-head-oswestry-144795.

Runners up were Black Horse, Preston; Three B’s, Bridlington and Little Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill, London.

https://camra.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/shropshire-pub-taken-from-failing-local-to-best-in-the-uk-in-under-a-decade-93730

CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group shares news and updates about pubs with historically significant interiors across the country.

December 2024's Pub Heritage Bulletin is out now

The bulletin has news on:
Crown & Anchor, Llanidloes; Tipperary, Temple; Springfield Hotel, Wigan; Dewdrop, Peacehaven; Mitre, Stourbridge; Jenny Lind, Hastings; Lord Southampton, Kentish Town; Highland, Leeds.

Read the Bulletin here: https://camra.org.uk/heritage-pubs/bulletins/pub-heritage-bulletin-262-december-2024

Northdown Brewery Newsletter: Holiday needs & a NEW BEER (.pdf)
Ramsgate Brewery Newsletter: Last Minute Discount & Fresh On Draught (.pdf)

CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group shares news and updates about pubs with historically significant interiors across the country.

November's Pub Heritage Bulletin is out now

The bulletin has news on:
Fort Bar, Belfast; Travellers Rest, Alpraham; Waggon & Horses, Ibstock; Nova Scotia, Bristol; Swan & Railway, Wigan; Pot Still, Glasgow; Olde Leathern Bottel, Wednesbury; Agricultural Inn, Penrith; Bell, Bloxwich; Sir Charles Napier, Leicester.

Read the Bulletin here: https://pubheritage.camra.org.uk/bulletins/pub-heritage-bulletin-261-nov-2024

October's Pub Heritage Bulletin is out now, with some news about the Vine, Stoke-on-Trent.

The bulletin also includes news on:
Britons Protection, Manchester; Black Horse, Preston; Station Buffet, Bridlington; Fort Bar, Belfast; Duke William, Stoke-on-Trent; Eyre Arms, Hassop; Fox, Ysceifog; Old Swan, Atherstone; Vale Hotel, Nottingham; Pretty Bricks, Walsall; Nova Scotia, Bristol; Cuckoo Bush Inn, Gotham; Sir Charles Napier, Leicester; Hanbury, Islington.

Read the Bulletin here: https://pubheritage.camra.org.uk/bulletins/pub-heritage-bulletin-260-oct-2024

Thank you to those that attended the recent Tasting Panel Meeting (Wed, 18th September).

We went through the current Kent Panel nominations for the Champion Beer of Britain and identified some areas to concentrate on. We discussed the Milds category and within a few days we had a couple more scores come through and we now have 2 beers in this category that we can put through. If anyone sees Kent Brewery’s Born to be Mild then please score this one and we should be able to put this one in too.

As most of you will already know (a recent Branch Bulletin was sent to all CAMRA members) the nominations are now open for the next Champion Beer of Britain competition. Please take some time to look at the CBOB website and the choices, especially those from Kent. The competition is open to ALL CAMRA MEMBERS. The closing date for nominations is 4th November. The date is the same for the Tasting Panel’s nominations.

We are also keen to get some nominations for the x2 Bottled Beer Categories. As a Panel we thought that we should concentrate on the widely available ones and as such need some scores for Shepherd Neame 1698 and the Ramsgate Gadds' range (DogBolter and Black Pearl spring to mind here). There were a number of Curious Brew beers listed as options (again see the website for possibilities) but these were not in their core range. Personally, I think it might prove difficult to get hold of these with only a month to go. There are also bottled beers from the Stag and Northdown Breweries, although I have not seen these lately. So please get some scores in for the Sheps and Gadds ones and we can get something on the Kent Nomination form.

Thank you, once again to those that helped with the Judging at the East Malling Beer Festival. Special mention also goes out to Glyn Parry who represented us at the SIBA Beer Judging in London and was forced to Judge +20 Beers (it’s a hard life this Beer Judging Lark).

There are more opportunities for doing this kind of work coming up. So it is always worthwhile doing the Beer Judging Training (the one in October is fully booked up).

Events

As usual, there are a good amount of events coming up, including the Kent County meeting that will be held this weekend at the Elephant in Faversham.

• Sat, 5th Oct. 12:00pm: Ramsgate Brewery Green Hop Festival
• Sat, 5th - Sun, 6th Oct: Iron Pier Brewery, Gravesend – Green Hop Festival
• Wed, 9th – sun, 20th Oct: Wetherspoons Beer Festival (Nationwide)
• Thu, 17th - Sun, 20th Oct: 13th SPA Valley Railway Beer Festival 2024 *
• Fri, 25th - 27th Oct: Dovecote Inn, Capel - mini festival of Green Hop Beers noon -11pm each day.

* West Kent CAMRA are looking for volunteers to serve behind the bars at Tunbridge Wells West and Groombridge. If you'd like to volunteer please email ku.oc.daehgnirpsehtylb@lehcar.

Brewery Visits

We really need to get some Brewery visits in the diary as, come November, we will be Judging for the next year’s Nominations. Could we ask BLOs at our branches know that the Tasting Panel is keen to visit and complete some Tastings. I will try to remember to raise this at the County meeting (always good to have County backing).

And Finally

Finally, don’t forget to go out and drink the Green Hop beers that are around at this time of year, as the nights begin to draw in. Unfortunately these often do not qualify for CBOB as are pretty unique, although there is an argument to be had with Roy Bray about their inclusion under the ‘Speciality Beers - Differently Produced’ category.

Cheers & Beers (and get those beer scores in!)

Jona Jewitt CAMRA Kent Tasting Panel Chair ku.gro.armac.tnek@gnitsatreeb

The new Government is presenting its first ever Budget on 30 October. With a new Chancellor and hundreds of new MPs, it is really important that as many people as possible contact their local MP to help make sure the Budget delivers help for consumers, beer and pubs.

Contact your MP with our campaigning tool here: https://ow.ly/BXsZ50Tn4Vn

We are calling for a further reduction in draught beer and cider duty, a reform of the Business Rates system in England, a VAT cut for hospitality businesses, a review of the definition of cider and a 50% juice minimum in cider, as well as the removal of unnecessary rules that prevent sales of takeaway pints.

Read our press release here: https://ow.ly/l0xw50Tn4Vm

CAMRA has already sent the Treasury groundbreaking new research that shows a cut in the tax paid on pints in pubs would create thousands of new jobs and put millions back into the economy – but we need your help to make sure your MP knows too.

Our simple, easy-to-use E-lobby tool means it only takes a minute to contact your MP and ask them to back a package of measures to support pubs and pubgoers across the UK.

Email your MP now: https://ow.ly/BXsZ50Tn4Vn

CAMRA's latest newsletter from the Shepherd Neame brewery.

Draught Copy is the free newsletter of the Maidstone and Mid Kent, Ashford, Folkestone and Romney Marsh, Gravesend & Darent Valley, Bexley, Medway & West Kent branches of CAMRA.

https://mmk.camra.org.uk/dl.php?id=225627

The result of the Kent CAMRA Pub of the Year Competition 2024 has been announced:

Winner: Nelson Arms, Tonbridge.
Runner-up: The Royston, Broadstairs.

Congratulations to both pubs on getting through to the Regional final, and we wish the Nelson Arms all the best in the Super-Regional stage.

The presentation of the winner's certificate will be held at the Nelson Arms on Thursday, 15th August at 7.30pm.

Click here for more information about the competition.

The winners of the Kent CAMRA Area Pub of the Year Competition 2024 have been announced:

East Kent Pub of the Year: The Royston, Broadstairs.
West Kent Pub of the Year: Nelson Arms, Tonbridge.

The other finalists were:

• Berry, Walmer (DDS).
• Compass Alehouse, Gravesend (GDV).
• Coopers Arms, Rochester (Medway).
• The Dog House, Smeeth (AFRM).
• Larkins Alehouse, Cranbrook (MMK).
• Thomas Becket, Canterbury (Canterbury).
• Three Tuns, Lower Halstow (Swale).

Click here for more information about the competition.

The Royston, Broadstairs

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge.