Today we are celebrating our sister branches, the localised CAMRA groups that border the Mid-Chilterns area.
In order to introduce our neighbouring branches, it is important to understand the system of devolved groups within the Campaign for Real Ale, Europe’s biggest consumer organisation. Nationally, there are over 150,000 members of CAMRA, and each one belongs to a localised branch with a committee who oversee campaigning within a set geographic area. Each branch belongs to a region, with regional directors acting as a flow point between local committees and the national executive. There are currently around 220 branches that belong to 16 different regions including Wales, Northern Ireland & Scotland and Wessex & Channel Islands.
Mid-Chilterns CAMRA is part of the Central Southern Region. Two of our five sister branches, Aylesbury Vale & Wycombe plus Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead, can also be found in Central Southern Region. Our remaining three sister branches, South Herts, Watford & District and South Beds, all reside in the East Anglia Region.
To start, we’re highlighting the South Herts branch, which borders the Mid-Chilterns to the north. South Herts branch is famously home to CAMRA HQ, as well as the branch’s noted beer festival, St Albans Beer Festival which occurs annually in September. St Albans is one of a handful of larger areas that make up the branch, which also includes Hertford and Harpenden. The South Herts branch is home to popular brewers 3 Brewers, Farr Brew and McMullen’s. The branch magazine for South Herts CAMRA is Pints of View. The South Herts branch Pub of the Year is The Robin Hood (St Albans), we highly recommend it!
To the south-east of the Mid-Chilterns is a small border shared with the Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead branch. The Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead branch host their annual event, the Maidenhead Beer & Cider Festival, at North Maidenhead Cricket Club Sports Bar at Summerleaze Park (around July time). Winsor & Eton Brewery, Two Flints Brewery, Indie Rabble Brewing Company and Stardust Brewery can be found in the branch boundaries, and the reigning Pub of the Year is A Hoppy Place in Maidenhead. Areas covered include the obvious Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead, along with Denham, Stoke Poges, Gerrards Cross and more. The branch magazine for Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead branch is CAMRA Angle.
Nestled on the southern border of the Mid-Chilterns area is Aylesbury Vale & Wycombe branch. Aylesbury Vale & Wycombe’s branch Pub of the Year is the The Cross Keys, found in Thame. Major areas in the branch include Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Marlow, Thame, Beaconsfield and Aston Clinton. The branch’s regular publication is the Swan Supping magazine and showcases news from no less than 10 brewers within the locale. Brewers listed within the Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe area are Boobytrap Brewery, Chiltern Brewery, Feisty Beer Co, Old Luxters, Rebellion Brewery, Thame Brewery, Vale Brewery and XT Brewery.
Adjoining our western border is the Watford & District branch. The Watford & District branch holds an annual beer festival (Watford Beer Festival) and coverage of the branch can be found in the Pints of View magazine (a multi-branch magazine which covers the Hertfordshire-based branches of North Herts, South Herts, Watford & District and Herts & Essex Borders). Brewers that call the branch home include Pope’s Yard Brewery, Creative Juices Brewery, Bowtie Brewers and Oxhey Village Brewery Co.
The main territories that fall under Watford & District CAMRA are Watford, Bushey, Rickmansworth and Croxley Green, with many suburbs and villages in between. The current Watford and District branch Pub of the Year is Two Trees Micropub, in Watford.
Last but not least we are thrilled to highlight South Beds CAMRA, home to Leighton Buzzard, Luton, Dunstable and Ampthill areas, amongst others. South Beds border meets that of the Mid-Chilterns at our branch’s northerly boundary, marking the beginning of Bedfordshire territories that are home to Leighton Buzzard Brewery and Kelchner Brewery. The South Beds regular publication is the Beer In Bed(s) magazine and the branch’s reigning Pub of the Year is The Bricklayers Arms in Luton.
So there we have a definite list of our wonderful sister branches, including details of their publications, events and Pub of the Year award winners, seek them out and enjoy.
Here’s to our neighbouring branches, and to the Central Southern and East Anglia CAMRA regions!
CHEERS
*Learn more about South Herts CAMRA through their website HERE.
Learn more about Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead CAMRA through their website HERE.
Learn more about Aylesbury Vale & Wycombe CAMRA through their website HERE.
Learn more about Watford & District CAMRA through their website HERE.
Learn more about South Beds CAMRA through their website HERE.