Westmorland CAMRA Home Page
Home page of the Westmorland Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.
Westmorland CAMRA Pub of The Season Summer 2013
The Eagle and Child, Staveley
Westmorland CAMRA is delighted to announce that their Summer 2013 Pub of the Season is the Eagle and Child at Staveley. Congratulations to all concerned.
Alan Risdon
Westmorland CAMRA is very sad to report the passing of our dear friend and Branch Life President Alan Risdon on May 15th in Lancaster Royal Infirmary. Alan was voted one of CAMRA's top 40 campaigners last year after a life promoting real ale. He wrote an article in two parts on his life of imbibing for our Lakes and Ale magazine issues 30 (page 8) and 31 (page 10).
Alan's funeral will be held on Tuesday 28th May at the chapel at Beetham Hall at 12:00, followed by a natural burial in the nearby woods. Flowers are welcome, but nothing that is not bio-degradable please. This will be followed by a celebration of Alan's life in the Golden Rule in Ambleside from about 13:30.
Minibus transport is being arranged, please contact David Currington or Rik Still for more information, their details are on the branch contacts page.
West Pennines CAMRA Cider and Perry Pub of The Year 2013
The George and Dragon, Dent
Westmorland CAMRA is delighted to announce that the George and Dragon at Dent has now become the CAMRA West Pennines Cider and Perry Pub of the Year for 2013, following on from winning the branch award.
Congratulations to Gary and his team.
The pub will now go forward to the national level of the competition.
Westmorland CAMRA Pub of The Year 2013
The Midland Hotel, Appleby-in-Westmorland
Westmorland CAMRA is delighted to announce that their 2013 Pub of the Season is the Midland Hotel in Appleby-in-Westmorland. Congratulations to Clive and his team.
The presentation, along with that of the Cider and Perry Pub of the Year award (see below) will take place on Monday 11th March at the Midland Hotel.
The Midland Hotel had to survive a vote off to win, and therefore the Riflemans Arms in Kendal has been awarded Pub of the Year runner-up.
Westmorland CAMRA Pub of The Season Winter 2013
The Red Lion, Sedbergh
Westmorland CAMRA is delighted to announce that their Winter 2013 Pub of the Season is the Red Lion at Sedbergh. Congratulations to all concerned.
Isle of Dogs Is SIBA North Champion
The Watermill Brewery is celebrating winning the SIBA North Regional Beer Competition with their beer Isle of Dogs. Brian looked suitably shocked and pleased.
Isle of Dogs also won gold in the Premium Bitters section, and Hawkshead Lakeland Lager won bronze in the speciality bottled beers section. Their were also Golds for Barngates Cat Nap and Cumbrian Legendary Ales Langdale and Croglin Vampire in their respective sections.
Two Three Four National Awards for Westmorland Pubs
Three of our Westmorland pubs have recently won major national awards. The Black Swan in Ravenstonedale, which is our own pub
of the year for 2012, has now won the AA English National Pub of the Year award.
The Black Swan has now also won the Good Hotel Guide national award for the best pub with rooms. A new display cabinet may be required!
Also being recognised is the Royal Oak at Appleby-in-Westmorland which has been named as the Best Tenanted/Leased Pub in the Great British Pub Awards.
The Watermill at Ings has now also been awarded the 2013 Good Pub Guide Own Brew Pub of the Year award.
Many congratulations to all of them on their achievements.
2013 CAMRA Good Beer Guide Available
The new 2013 CAMRA Good Beer Guide is now available, listing the best Real Ale establishments in the United Kingdom. For your copy either follow the link on the right hand side of this page, or contact Tony Jackson.
Cumbrian Success at the Champion Beer of Britain Awards
Cumbrian breweries have come away from the CAMRA National Champion Beer of Britain competition with several awards, including the big one, the national award for the
best beer in Britain, which went to Coniston brewery for their No.9 Barley Wine. This follows up their
national award for Bluebird Bitter in 1998.
Also winning awards were Cumbrian Legendary Ales Langdale, which collected the silver in the golden ales category, and Great Gable Yewbarrow which won silver in the bottled beers.
Making the finals in their categories but just missing out on medals were Hawkshead Brodie's Prime, Jennings Sneck Lifter and Barngates Cat Nap.
Congratulations to all brewers who make these lovely beers, and thanks to all drinkers who love them and voted for them, to all those who did tasting cards, over and over again and to all those who sat on the judging panels at all levels.
Aren't we lucky to have such great beers in Cumbria!.
Full details should be here.
Beer Duty Increase
George Osborne has spoken and he's still taking a third of your pint......Now it is time to have your say.
Say no to the beer tax escalator to make beer more affordable and support the Great British pub.
To save your pint the e-petition needs 100,000 signitures, will yours be one of them?
In his Budget speech George Osborne announced the Government's intention to continue its damaging approach to Britain's beloved pubs as a further inflation plus 2% increase on beer will bring about yet more price rises at the bar, and further job losses in the sector.
Around £1 on every pint goes to the tax man in beer duty and VAT - we urge you and your beer drinking friends to fight back and sign the e-petition.
The beer and pub industry supports almost 1 million jobs and contributes £21 billion to UK GDP. It's time to speak out against the Government to stop damaging pubs, real ale, and your pocket.
Breweries of Cumbria Poster
The new version of the Breweries of Cumbria Poster is now available, including all the new
breweries that have been started since the original version was produced. Full details are
here.
