Branch Meeting – report attached

Summary of Mid Chilterns CAMRA Branch Meeting – 7 January 2026

1. Attendance & Administration

• Meeting held at The Stag, Mentmore.
• Chaired by Jared Ward‑Brickett.
• Apologies from several members.
• No matters arising from previous minutes.
• Declaration: Jared is an employee of Tring Brewery.

2. Branch Accounts

• Bank balance: £2,029
• Debtors: £754 (mainly Autumn Tapler)
• Expected income: £808 (Winter Tapler)
• Potential balance: £3,591
• Discussion on improving advertising payment processes and possibly giving the Treasurer an understudy.
• Action: Jared to discuss with Charles.

3. Membership

• Net change: –2 members since last meeting; –16 over the year.
• Current branch membership: 642.
• National CAMRA membership: 142,500, down 538.
• Concern that the loss of both Great British Beer Festivals will impact recruitment.

4. Brewery Liaison Officer (BLO) Reports

Tring Brewery

• Seasonal beer: Going Loco (3.9% bitter).
• 2026 charity: Berkhamsted & District Community First Responders.
• Planned charity‑themed beers include Ambrewlance, Resus Red, Skeleton Session, Shock Horror, The Holly & the I.V.
• 2025 charity total exceeded £8,000.

Mad Squirrel

• No formal report; mention of their 11.6% anniversary stout.

Pope’s Yard

• No report.

5. Tapler Magazine

• Very positive reception; wider distribution than ever.
• Richard now in contact with national beer writers including Laura Hadland and Christine Cryne.
• New Instaprint account manager following the death of previous contact.
• Spring Tapler planned for early March.

6. Good Beer Guide 2027 Selection

• Allocations: 6 pubs for Buckinghamshire, 8 for Hertfordshire, plus reserves.
• Discussion on scoring reliability and the impact of small numbers of scorers.
• Six‑month rule removed except for new venues.
• Plan to provide pubs with a QR link to NBSS; to be progressed by the Webmaster.

7. Locale & Pubwatch

• No changes or reports.

8. Socials

• Fitzrovia Trail in December was a success.
• Leighton Buzzard Trail planned (date TBC).
• Andy shared beer trail leaflets and suggested joint socials.

9. Beer Festival

• Wash‑up meeting date still to be arranged.

10. AOB

• Jared updating website; Jon asked about engagement.
• Action: Jared and Jon to coordinate on website matters.
• Andy joined the Herts Liaison Group and distributed trail materials.

11. Next Meeting

• Wednesday 4 February, 8pm, at The Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne.
• Action: Richard to book venue.