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Campaigning for Real Ale and Real Pubs in Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Brentwood & Thurrock. |
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On 12th January 1976 a group of dedicated fans of everything that is good and traditional in pubs and beer got together to form the local Romford & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). This later became known as the South West Essex Branch, due to the expansion of the area that it covered, and we recently reached a total of 1,000 Branch Members. The 30th Anniversary of the Branch was celebrated on Friday, 13th January 2006 at The Lodge, Corbets Tey Road, Upminster, with more than 100 people attending.
What we do best – namely looking at pubs and checking the beer - is quite a task, as we have such a large area, and so many pubs to cover - 354 at the last count! However, we are trying (as part of the National Campaign) to draw attention to quality – the quality of the pubs, and the quality of the beer! Why not support your local Branch by joining us at our regular weekly ’Social Events’. We were joint winners of the All-Essex CAMRA Games Afternoon at the Hoop, Stock on Sunday 1st June. We shared the title with SE Essex Branch and won in the Horseshoes & Cribbage events.
We have a Branch Weekend away each year. In 2005 we went to the Methuen Arms Hotel, Corsham, Wiltshire, where we visited the nearby Box Brewery. In 2006 we were based in Chester, visiting Woodlands Brewery and the Bhurtpore Arms, Aston – a few miles away. 2007 saw us at the Corinium Hotel, Cirencester, with a visit to the Battledown Brewery in Cheltenham. This October we stayed at the Shrewsbury Hotel in Shrewsbury & visited the Dow Bridge Brewery in Leicestershire and the Salopian Brewery in Shrewsbury. We also had a visit to nearby Bishops Castle, which is home to two Brewpubs - the Three Tuns & the Six Bells.
The Thurrock Beer Festival is held each June and a big thank you to all the people who came and drank the beer this year – we almost sold out on the Saturday evening. - Click here for Details and Pictures from the 2008 Festival.
The 2009 edition of the Good Beer Guide was published on September 11th. It is available at Branch Meetings and Socials - let us know in advance if you would like to purchase a copy - at a special price for CAMRA Members! We also have copies of the 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 & 2004 Guides available for £1 each (if collected). We will be taking nominations from Branch Members for new entries for the 2010 Good Beer Guide up to our Meeting on November 27th at the Phoenix, Rainham. NB: Those nominating new pubs must be willing to survey them.. Our final Selection Meetings for the 2010 Good Beer Guide will be held next February.
The SW Essex Branch ‘Pubs of the Year 2008’ are the:
· White Hart, Grays – ‘Essex Area’ - Date Presented: Tuesday 10th June 2008 - Click here for Pub details
· Travellers Friend, Woodford Green – ‘London Area’ - Date Presented: Tuesday 29th April 2008
The ‘Essex County Pub of the Year 2008’ is the: Station Arms, Southminster - Click here for Pub details
The ‘East Anglia Regional Pub of the Year 2008’ is the: Chequers, Little Gransden, Cambridgeshire (Also home to the Son of Sid Brewery)
The ‘London Regional Pub of the Year 2008’ is the: Trafalgar, South Wimbledon (SW19) - Click here for Pub details
If pubs are important as places to enjoy drinking beer, then Breweries are just as important for producing the stuff and very enjoyable to visit - See ‘Brewery Trips’ for details
Talking about the quality of beer, Fullers want to know what you think about their beers & pubs. If you have any views, why not let them know at www.proudofyourpride.com & send us a copy.
Obituary - Andrew Clifton (1951 - 2007)
It was with great sadness that we reported the unexpected and untimely death of Andrew Clifton (South-West Essex Branch Secretary & Webmaster), who was found dead at his home on Tuesday 18th September 2007 - aged just 56 years and 5 months.
Born on the 16th April 1951, he soon left his native Swansea in Wales, for Romford in Essex, when his father's work moved to London.
University-educated, with both Welsh and Northamptonshire roots, he was an accomplished linguist, speaking fluent German and understanding (but less-often speaking) French, Spanish, Catalan & Welsh, amongst others.
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CONTACT US:
Chairman |
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SW Essex Branch |
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© The SW Essex Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale To contact us: Email: swessex @essex-camra.org.uk or Phone: 07711 971957 |
