Cambridge Winter Beer Festival
2025-12-08 00:00 UTC

Informal social - The Piggeries, Tring Brewery
2025-12-13 12:00 - 17:00 | Tring Brewery, Dunsley Farm, London Road, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 6HA, United Kingdom
Pre-Christmas informal get-together at the Tring Brewery.

Branch Meeting - report attached
2026-01-07 20:00 - 22:00 | The Stag Inn, 7 The Green, Mentmore, LU7 0QF, United Kingdom
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.

Branch Meeting - report attached
2026-02-04 20:00 - 22:00 | Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne, Tring, HP23 5QE, United Kingdom
Summary of Mid Chilterns CAMRA Branch Meeting – 4 February 2026

Attendance & Administration

Meeting held at the Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne.
Usual officers present; apologies from Amanda Harvell.
Declaration: Chair employed by Tring Brewery.
Previous minutes: no matters arising.

Branch Accounts

Bank & ledger balances: £2,263.
Debtors: £394 (2026), £240 (older).
Winter Tapler advertising income due: £688.
Potential total if all paid: £3,585.
Treasurer proposed:

Remit £1,500 to national CAMRA.
Retain £500 for expected festival first-aider costs.
Invoice advertisers before publication and require payment upfront (decision deferred).

Outstanding issues:

Crown & Sceptre (Bridens Camp) and Trekkers (Chesham) no longer advertising.

Membership

+2 new members, 11 lapsed.
Branch total: 638.
National CAMRA: 141,767 members.

Brewery Liaison Reports

Mad Squirrel

Hertford shop performing well.
New collaboration beer: Crimson Hart (5% red IPA).
Two new 250HL tanks installed; currently holding lager; future use for $umo.
Supplying Craft Local pubs and Acorn Pubs.
$umo keg now in 430 Wetherspoons.

Pope’s Yard

Filming income increasingly important due to brewery/pubs downturn.
Some stock of Abbey Flyer still available.

Tring Brewery

Monthly special: Resus Red (4.2% amber).
Raised £8,426 for The Repair Shed.
Shop repairs ongoing after vehicle collision; temporary portakabin in use.
Piggeries to screen Six Nations.

Tapler Magazine

Winter issue well received; judges disliked cover.
Spring issue to include articles on Greek beer, beer engines, St Albans Festival, new beer styles, Oddfellows Arms.
Wordsearch: cask dispensing equipment.
Expanding coverage to Leighton Buzzard Brewery.
Front cover: Tring Brewery’s Piggeries bus taproom.
Printing deadline: early March; payment to Instaprint needed in advance.
New advertiser: Swan, Stewkley; enquiry sent to Lamb, Berkhamsted.

GBG 2027 Selection

Survey deadline: 2 March.
Surveyors assigned for Herts and Bucks pubs.
Reserves listed for both counties.
Actions: Pubs Officer to send forms; surveyors to return by 25 February.

Pubwatch Updates

Reopened: Old Palace (Kings Langley), Trooper (Aldbury).
Refurbished: Paper Mill (Apsley).
Possible reopening: Hungry Olive (Chesham Vale).
Closed: Lussmans at Five Bells (Berkhamsted).
Saracen’s Head (Kings Langley) closed for refurbishment.

Socials

Leighton Buzzard crawl moved to 21 February, starting at White Horse at noon.

Beer Festival

Business plan approved.
Festival committee meeting: 25 February, Full House, Hemel Hempstead.

AOB

CAMRA Members’ Weekend & AGM: 17–19 April, St Albans.
Tring’s Side Pocket for a Toad won Hertfordshire Beer of the Festival; presentation on 25 April at the Piggeries.

Next Meeting

4 March, 8pm at the Pheasant, Chesham.
Certificate presentation to Jane for 30 years’ service.

Winter Social - Leighton Buzzard
2026-02-21 12:00 - 22:00
Meet at White Horse 12pm. For those who maybe not going by train could go straight to Black Lion for 1pm. They don’t do hot meals but nice range of quality snacks such as cheeses / scotch eggs etc.
Planned route is White Horse, Buckingham Arms, Black Lion, Swan Hotel, Black Horse if you like a sports bar, they had 3 Tring beers on, and finish at the Bald Buzzard which is a micro pub linked to Leoghton Buzzard Brewery.
Look forward to seeing you there.

Branch Meeting - report attached
2026-03-04 20:00 - 22:00 | The Pheasant, Waterside, Chesham, Hertfordshire, HP5 1QE, United Kingdom
MID CHILTERNS CAMRA BRANCH MEETING SUMMARY
Date: 4 March 2026
Location: The Pheasant, Chesham

OVERVIEW
Routine business covered finances, membership, brewery liaison updates, Pub of the Year awards, socials, and beer festival planning.

FINANCES

Bank and ledger balances: £13,446 (includes £10,200 festival loan).
£500 allocated for expected first-aider invoice.
Two advertising debts from 2024 remain outstanding.
£1,500 remittance to national CAMRA not yet made.
Action: Treasurer to seek approval via WhatsApp and arrange payment.
Branch remains in fine financial health.

MEMBERSHIP

2 new members joined; 5 lapsed; 1 moved out.
Branch total: 631 members.
National CAMRA membership: 141,394 (down 508 since January).

BREWERY LIAISON UPDATES
Mad Squirrel

New core keg beer: Citrik (4.2%) replacing Big C (5.5%).
Legally Blonde (4%) to appear in Wetherspoon’s Spring Festival.
Mosaic (6.2%) now in Sainsbury’s nationwide.
Limited edition Sappy (6.6%) brewed at 30HL, may expand to 60HL.

Pope’s Yard

No update.

Tring Brewery

March special: Skeleton Session (4%).
Seasonal return: Bring Me Sunshine (4.2%).
Small-batch West Coast IPA (6%) at the Piggeries.
Shop repairs nearly complete.
Street Food Heroes event renewed (monthly, March–October).

TAPLER MAGAZINE

Spring edition (52 pages) nearly complete with refreshed design.
Articles include CAMRA Members’ Weekend, Greek beer scene, beer engines, Sharp’s closure, Bass, barley, bar etiquette, beer scores, and a Leighton Buzzard social.
Advertising revenue expected to exceed £1,000.

PUB OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Overall POTY: Hop Tap, Hemel Hempstead
Runner-up: Three Blackbirds, Boxmoor
Cider POTY: Rising Sun, Berkhamsted
Cider Runner-up: Fishery Wharf Café, Boxmoor
Community Pub: Red Lion, Dagnall
Most Improved: Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne

Actions: Richard Healey to order frames; Jared to order certificates.

LOCALE

Grand Junction Arms is a potential candidate but needs six months of trading before consideration.

PUBWATCH

Black Horse, Chesham Vale: reopening expected in June.
Three Blackbirds, Flamstead: reopened with three handpumps and Asian cuisine.
Black Cat, Lye Green: listed for sale/lease.

SOCIALS

Next social: Berkhamsted, likely 23 May, canal-side route.
Future ideas: boat trip from Kings Langley to Apsley; Autumn trip to Bedford.

BEER FESTIVAL

Preparations progressing well and accelerating.
Next Festival Committee meeting: TBC.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Chris Pontin presented Pheasant’s landlady Jane with certificate for 30 years’ service.
Farr Brew reportedly not brewing and not opening taproom.
Thanks to GBG surveyors for timely submissions.

NEXT MEETING

Three Blackbirds, Flamstead – 1 April, 8pm

Branch Meeting - report attached
2026-04-08 20:00 - 22:00 | The Three Blackbirds, 2 High Street, Flamstead, Hertfordshire, AL3 8BS, United Kingdom
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

CAMRA Members' Weekend - St Albans 2026
2026-04-17 - 2026-04-19
A city wide (long) weekend of events celebrating beer in CAMRA’s birthplace.
See website for all the details.

Branch Meeting - CANCELLED
2026-05-06 20:00 - 22:00 | Red Lion, Chenies, Village Road, Chenies, Rickmansworth, WD3 6ED, United Kingdom

Branch Meeting
2026-06-03 20:00 - 22:00 | The Bull, 10 High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 2BS, United Kingdom

Branch Meeting
2026-07-01 20:00 - 22:00 | The White Lion, White Lion Road, Amersham, HP7 8LJ, United Kingdom

Hemel Old Town Beer Festival
2026-07-17 - 2026-07-19 | St Mary’s, High Street, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 3AE, United Kingdom
