MID CHILTERNS CAMRA – BRANCH MEETING SUMMARY

Venue: The Three Blackbirds, Flamstead Date: 8 April 2026 • Time: 8pm

ATTENDANCE

Present: William Powell (Chair), Amanda Harvell, Andy Harvell, Charles Teuma, Nigel Harris, Richard Healey, Alan Tuff, Richard Abraham (Minutes). Apologies: Jared Ward‑Brickett, Jon Humphries.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

• Jared Ward‑Brickett – employee of Tring Brewery.

MINUTES & MATTERS ARISING

• Only matter arising: certificate frames for Pubs of the Year now sourced and with Jared. Quote: “Richard H had sourced them, and they were now with Jared.”

BRANCH ACCOUNTS

Overall Position

• Bank balance: £10,015.00.

Mid Chilterns Ledger

• Ledger: £2,903.00
• Less £500.00 set aside for 2025 Festival First Aid → £2,403.00
• £1,500.00 surplus to Head Office approved unanimously.
• Remaining funds: £903.00
• Expected advert income: £850.00 → Potential total: £1,753.00

Hemel Old Town Beer Festival Ledger

• Balance: £7,112.00
• Based on: HO loan £10,200.00 minus costs (TEN £21.00; glasses £2,419.00; toilets £648.00). Quote: “A slight increase for the 1150 glasses.”

Advertising

• Spring Tapler invoices: £1,090.00 (paid £240.00; £850.00 due).
• One unpaid invoice (£72.00) written off unanimously.

Thanks

• Vote of thanks to Charles for his work on accounts and advertising.

MEMBERSHIP

• 5 new members; 11 lapsed; total now 625.
• National CAMRA membership: 141,205 (down 563).
• Concern noted about reduced recruitment due to loss of national festivals.

BREWERY LIAISON REPORTS

Tring Brewery

• Monthly special: Thirst Responder (3.9% APA, Eldorado & Chinook).
• Piggeries hosting first Pint & Paint night (23 April, £30 incl. materials + pint). Quote: “Paint their own ‘oil painting of a pint of ale’ on a pint mat.”

Mad Squirrel

• New equipment including in‑house cask washer and two large fermenters.
• Logo rebrand to a “top half mask type face”.
• Cask: ‘Citrik’ replacing ‘Big C’; new seasonal Legally Blonde (4.1%).
• Keg: ‘Pomelo’ 4.2%; ‘Sappy’ 6.6% WCIPA; new Techno 5% NEIPA.
• Cans: ‘Fog Off’ 6% now in M&S; ‘Mosaic’ 6.2% now in Sainsbury’s.
• Expanded presence at football clubs and beer shops; Amersham shop performing best.

Pope’s Yard

• Site still used for filming.
• Planning a stout; request received to brew Abbey Flyer again.

TAPLER

• Spring edition delayed due to printer system change and a corrupted file.
• Option to pay ~£80 for faster turnaround to be reviewed before next edition (target early June).

LOCALE

• No changes since March.

PUBWATCH

• Roadworks affecting trade at The Crown (Little Missenden) and The Three Blackbirds (Boxmoor).
• Black Horse, Chesham Vale: planning to reopen; breakfasts/coffee only initially.
• Bridgewater Arms (Little Gaddesden): Greene King placing pub on market; flats above complicate sale.
• Black Lion (Leighton Buzzard): barn reopened after major refurbishment.
• Rose & Crown (Ivinghoe): new tenant Paul Wilkinson; menu changes expected.
• Eagle (Amersham): moving to managed house model.
• Old Bellgate (Hemel): reopened; no cask ale yet.
• Grand Junction Arms (Bulbourne): manager has left; replacement sought.

FESTIVALS

• Leverstock Green CC planning 8–10 cask festival (2–4 Oct); Charles liaising.
• Proposal for Old Town Market stall to promote Branch festival and sell advance tickets.
• Dalling (Kings Langley) offering to supply Prosecco for Fizz Bar.
• Suggestion to prioritise beers that sold out last year and the beer of the festival; seek advice from Jared and Tony Hosier.

SOCIALS

Next Social

• Saturday 23 May – Berkhamsted canal pubs Route: Crystal Palace → The Boat → Rising Sun → The Bull → Mad Squirrel Beer Shop → others on High Street.

Future Ideas

• Wendover, Marlow.
• Three Blackbirds (Boxmoor) minibus trip to Vale Brewery on 16 May.

AOB

• Pub of the Year announcements well received and covered by local media.
• Region recruiting for new Regional Director.
• CAMRA National AGM during Members Conference, St Albans, 17–19 April.

NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 6 May, 8pm – The Red Lion, Chenies