The Campaign for Real Ale

in Cheshire

CAMRA: The Campaign for Real Ale is a volunteer organisation, speaking for all pub goers. We have more than 95,000 memebrs all over the UK. Apart from a handful of admin staff in St. Albans, we are all doing this in our spare time, motivated by a love of real pubs and real beer.

We are the most successful consumer organisation of all time, and have shown that the voice of the consumer can make a difference, even against the might of multi-national leisure concerns. The battles we fight are continuing (See below for some of our current concerns) , and we need your help. New members are always most welcome, and those who have joined but not shown themselves yet are encouraged to call us and help with the fight.

We are not a bunch of introspective beer-bores, and we like to have a good time. Come and see us, and join in the fun! We plan to bring you news and views on all matters which are of interest, whether you visit pubs or run one, whether you brew beer, sell it or just enjoy drinking it, or even if your pub visits do not involve Real Ale, or indeed, beer at all.

Wewe rely on you to provide us with news. We invite e-mails and any other snippets of information from licensees, customers and brewers.

We bring you news from all four corners of the county, by our local CAMRA website and on social media.These will tell you what local CAMRA groups areis doing, wherethey are meeting, and what is going on in its particular area, as well as printing articles on matters of concern to all pub users.

Come on in, the beer’s fine!

This is a good time to be involved in CAMRA in Cheshire. Several local groups have become much more active in recent times, with lots more social and campaigning activity, new faces and new ideas.

Social evenings, brewery trips and Beer Festivals together with a wealth of new ideas await you!

Several groups have started sending mail-outs to local members, and this has brought in new blood.

If you are already a member, I would encourage you to come along to one of the activities set out in the Branch Diaries, phoning beforehand if you want. 

CAMRA's Campaigning Objectives

o To maintain your rights as a consumer

o To promote quality, choice and value for money

o To support the public house as a focus of community life

o To campaign for a greater appreciation of traditional beers, ciders and perries as part of our national heritage and culture

o To seek improvements in all licensed premises and throughout the brewing industry

o CAMRA also seeks to promote real cider and perry through a sub-organisation called APPLE. Like ale, these are traditional British drinks and like ale, the traditional product is very different from the 'dead' version.

While CAMRA is a single industry group, it has a very wide area of campaigning interests. At present campaigns we are actively pursuing include the following:

o Improved competition and choice in the brewing industry

o Preserving the British pub and defending licensees from eviction by pub owners

o Seeking a fairer tax system for smaller brewers (the last two Budgets have made good progress here)

o Seeking fuller information about the beer we drink, such as ingredients labelling

o A fundamental reform of licensing law (for example, opening hours)

o Fighting take-overs and mergers (as these often lead to a reduction in choice)

o Encouraging higher standards of pub design