Pub News

The Mermaid in St Albans, an unspoilt bare-boards cottage-style pub, has been named both pub of the year and cider pub of the year by the South Herts branch of CAMRA. The Mermaid will now go forward to the next round of CAMRA's national pub of the year competition. Runner up was another St Albans pub, the legendary Fighting Cocks

Added: Monday, March 20th 2017

Some of Britain's top award-winning pubs face massive hikes in rates when the new system kicks in in April, according to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). The Baum in Rochdale, CAMRA's National Pub of the Year in 2012 (pictured,) will see its rateable value rise by 377% while the 2015 winner of the award, the Sandford Park in Cheltenham, faces a rates rise of 181%. CAMRA is calling on Chancellor Philip Hammond to review the increases in this week's Budget

Added: Sunday, March 5th 2017

The George & Dragon in Yorkshire's Swaledale, named CAMRA's National Pub of the Year for 2017, is to add its own micro-brewery. The pub closed in 2008 but was rescued by the local community. A co-operative raised the money to buy back and refurbish the pub, which was re-opened in 2014 by former local MP William Hague, who is one of the shareholders. Landlord Stuart Miller (pictured) buys most of his beers from Yorkshire breweries

Added: Friday, March 3rd 2017

Margot James, Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, told the House of Commons on 26 January there was clear evidence some pub companies were flouting the new Pubs Code and preventing tenants from applying for the Market Rent Only option that would allow them to have a wider choice of beer. A debate on the code resulted in MPs voting to re-open the appointments process for controversial Pubs Code Adjudicator Paul Newby (pictured)

Added: Sunday, January 29th 2017

CAMRA -- the Campaign for Real Ale -- has called on the government to give greater protection to pubs as it salutes the fact that 2,000 pubs now have Asset of Community Value status. But to stop pubs being demolished or converted, CAMRA wants more planning support. Pictured: locals in Sheffield with MP Nick Clegg supporting the Plough, Sandygate, which Sainsbury's wants to convert to a retail outlet

Added: Tuesday, December 27th 2016

Sheffield pubgoers plan to stall an attempt by Enterprise Inns to sell the Cherry Tree pub to the Co-op, which will turn it into a retail outlet. Residents, backed by the local branch of CAMRA, plan to apply for Asset of Community Value status for the pub, which if granted will give them six months to find an alternative buyer.

Added: Monday, November 21st 2016

Pub campaigners in Surrey are battling to save the Cambridge Hotel from being sold to a property developer. It's the last pub standing on London Road, Camberley, where 16 pubs once stood. Members of the Surrey Hants Borders branch of CAMRA (pictured) are urging the local council to give the pub Asset of Community Value status that would allow the local community to attempt to raise funds to buy the pub

Added: Wednesday, July 20th 2016

Figures produced by CAMRA -- the Campaign for Real Ale -- show that pub closures have fallen from 27 to 21 a week. The campaign says this is due to vigorous work at grassroots level (pictured) to save pubs, supported by the government's freeze on beer duty. But rural and suburban pubs are still at the sharp end of closures as new openings bring respite to the high streets

Added: Thursday, July 14th 2016