News
Here is the latest news about what's happening in and around the branch area.
The minutes of the latest Branch Meeting can be found here (CAMRA log in required)
Further news from pubs and breweries in our area and often from further afield can be found on our Facebook group
- Bays Brewery award for Devon Dumpling Friday 29 November 2024
- Winter News & Brews Friday 22 November 2024
- Sandford Orchards Launches Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards 2025 Tuesday 19 November 2024
- Bear & Blacksmith,Chillington to reopen Friday 8 November 2024
- Latest Edition of Beer Magazine Thursday 7 November 2024
- Indie Beer Monday 4 November 2024
- Champion Beer of Britain 2024 Friday 25 October 2024
- Bays Brewery award for Devon Dumpling
Friday 29 November 2024
Bays Brewery has received the Champion Beer of Britain Southwest Region Bronze Award for Devon Dumpling
The presentation of the certificate will take place at the brewery on Monday 9th December at 10am. Could any members wishing to attend please let Dave Buckler know so we have an idea of numbers on the day? - Winter News & Brews Friday 22 November 2024
- Sandford Orchards Launches Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards 2025
Tuesday 19 November 2024
Sandford Orchards has just launched the 2025 Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards which offer aspiring cider makers the chance to win an invaluable package of advice, guidance and guaranteed listings in the on and off trade. These unique awards, which are now in their fourth year, are free to enter, open to cider makers producing between 3,000 and 50,000 litres of cider or perry per year and designed to support the future of cider in the UK. The closing date is 31st January 2025.
Barny Butterfield, Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards and founder of the awards comments: ”When we launched the inaugural Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards at the end of 2019, we had no idea that they would prove to be such a huge success. I set them up because we wanted to give something back to the industry that I love and I wanted to ensure that fledgling cider makers, who share my passion for real cider, were given the opportunity to thrive. Business is tough and it can be really daunting trying to get started. We are keen to support emerging cider makers in order to secure the future of quality cider enjoyment for generations to come and the response since the launch in 2019 has been incredibly encouraging. There is a hugely talented pool of new cider makers in the UK and we are looking forward to meeting more of them as part of the 2025 award process.”
The Breakthrough Cider Maker Award entrants will be judged by industry experts including Tom Oliver, Gabe Cook and Mary Topp and the winner will receive a prize package that includes a £500 Vigo voucher, a listing at their local Stable Pizza, a listing at The London Cider House, a Sandford Orchards collaboration limited edition cider and a visit by Sandford Orchards’ cider makers to offer practical help and advice about set up. The two runners up will both receive a £200 voucher from Bag In Box Shop UK and all three winners will receive a 12 month listing at Darts Farm, Devon and a 12 month listing on www.sandfordorchards.co.uk. Plus, everyone who enters will receive personalised, practical and actionable feedback.
Andy Jenkins (pictured) from Ganley and Naish, the most recent winners of the award comments : “Winning the award proved to myself that I can make cider, and cider to a good standard. As silly as that sounds, having peer approval has been hugely validating. Being in the company of amazing previous winners and runners up, is an exclusive club that I am going to cherish forever.”Gabe Cook, The Ciderologist and awards’ judge adds: “It is a joy to be part of these utterly unique and crucial Breakthrough Cider Awards. To give small cider makers not only a platform to shine, but to have real financial and technical support is fabulous. Bravo to Sandford Orchards for, not for the first time, thinking about the big picture and giving something back to the cider community.”
The Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards were launched by Sandford Orchards at the end of 2019 and aim to recognise and celebrate excellent quality whole juice ciders from around the UK. Sandford Orchards would like to thank Vigo, Bag In Box Shop UK, The Stable and The London Cider House for their support and prize donations.
For further information on the Sandford Orchards Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk/cider-awards. or follow Sandford Orchards on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. - Bear & Blacksmith,Chillington to reopen
Friday 8 November 2024
The much missed Bear & Blacksmith at Chillington reopens on Saturday 9th November at 5pm. Wild Blond and Jail Ale are expected to be on the bar. It will not open on Mondays or Tuesdays; Wednesday to Saturday opening hours will be 12.00 to 23.00 and Sunday 12.00 to 18.00. Contact details are:
Website
e-mail
Telephone 01548 721696 - Latest Edition of Beer Magazine
Thursday 7 November 2024
The Winter edition of the popular Beer magazine is now available, Click here to download a copy
- Indie Beer
Monday 4 November 2024
The INDIE BEER campaign aims to make the INDIE BEER mark the recognisable standard for high quality craft and cask beer, brewed across the UK, by truly independent breweries.
The campaign was launched by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates with the support of other beer organisations including the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the British Institute of Innkeepers (Bii), and Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB). It has also gained the support of beer media outlets such as Pellicle Magazine. If you're interested in supporting the campaign click here.
To see how an 'independent brewery' is defined by this campaign click here.
- Champion Beer of Britain 2024
Friday 25 October 2024
Overall winners:
Gold: Crouch Vale Brewery, Amarillo
Silver: Anspach & Hobday,The IPA
Bronze: Green Jack Brewery, Trawlerboys Best BitterMild category winners:
Gold: Penzance Brewing co, Mild
Silver: Brains Brewery, Dark
Bronze: Five Kingdoms Brewery, McGregor’s WildSession Bitter category winners:
Gold: Logan Beck Brewing, Proper Bitter
Silver: Mighty Oak Brewing Company Captain Bob
Bronze: Windsor & Eton Brewery, GuardsmanPremium Bitter category winners:
Gold: Green Jack Brewery Trawlerboys Best Bitter
Silver: Sharp's Brewery Sea Fury
Bronze: Cairngorm Brewery WildcatIPAs category winners:
Gold: Anspach & Hobday, The IPA
Silver: Byatt's Brewery, Mahana IPA
Bronze: Bragdy Twt Lol at The Trefforest Brewery Dreigiau’r Diafol / Diablo DragonsSession Pale, Blond & Golden Ales category winners:
Gold: Loch Lomond Brewery, Southern Summit
Silver: Oakham Ales, Citra
Bronze: Bewdley Brewery, SunshinePremium Pale, Blond and Golden Ales category winners:
Gold: Crouch Vale Brewery, Amarillo
Silver: St Austell Brewery, Proper Job
Bronze: Swannay Brewery Orkney IPAWinter Round winners:
Stouts and Porters, Session: Lancaster Brewery Lancaster Black
Stouts and Porters, Strong: Green Jack Brewery Baltic Trader
Speciality, Flavoured: Purple Moose Brewery/Bragdy Mŵs Piws Elderflower Ale (Cwrw Ysagwen)
Barley Wines and Strong Old Ales: Sarah Hughes Brewery (The Beacon Hotel) SnowflakeRead the full press release here: https://ow.ly/631J50TRQgz
- Champion Bottled Beer of Britain
Friday 11 October 2024
Five Kingdoms’ Dark Storm stout (6.9% ABV) has been named Champion Bottled Beer of Britain by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)
Five Kingdoms, is a small brewing team based out of the Isle of Whithorn, Scotland, started in 2015 as a hobby and passion project between Alastair Scoular, owner of the local pub and restaurant The Steam Packet Inn, and head chef Brendon Dennett.
More details here - Autumn News & Brews is out
Saturday 14 September 2024
The Autumn edition of News & Brews will be appearing in a pub near in the next few days. Remember they are free to take away or read and replace
- Otter Brewery News
Thursday 22 August 2024
Devon Live reports that Otter Brewery are planning to open a new outlet on Cathedral Close, Exeter, a site previously occupied by a restaurant called No5.
Devon Live article - Hanlons Tap Takeover
Wednesday 21 August 2024
- New Leisurewear with New Logos
Tuesday 16 July 2024
The new leisurewear range with the new logo is now available to order on on-line
Click hereSamples and order facilities will be available at the Sunshine Beer & Cider Festival from 18-20 July at Teignmouth Rugby Club -- more details here
- Sunshine Cask Ales, Ciders & Perries are now available
Saturday 6 July 2024
The Sunshine Festival cask ales, ciders and perries are now confirmed and can be viewed or downloaded here
- Champion Home Brewer of the Year 2024
Thursday 27 June 2024
Get ready to showcase your brewing brilliance! CAMRA is thrilled to announce that entries are now open for the Champion Home Brewer of the Year competition.
This exciting event, now in its third year, is your chance to shine among the best homebrewers in the UK. Join us on our mission to discover the most outstanding homebrews and brightest brewers of the future.More details and how to enter here
- New Branch Logo
Friday 21 June 2024
During our recent Annual General Meeting it was decided to update our Branch Logo.
You will now see the new logo starting to appear on digital media and eventually on Branch Leisurewear.
- South Hams Drinks Sherman wins Gold!
Tuesday 18 June 2024
South Hams Sherman, a 6.4% IPA, has won Gold at The CAMRA South West Regional Champion Beer of Britain Competition judged at the recent Chippenham Beer Festival in the IPAs (English & New World) Category.
The award was presented to Craig Blumschein, the brewer, by South Devon CAMRA's Branch Secretary Dave Wheeler.
Congratulations to Craig and all at South Hams Drinks
- Launch of Sunshine IPA - 2024 Festival Special
Tuesday 11 June 2024
The Blue Anchor in Teignmouth was chosen for the launch of this year's festival special, brewed for us by Teignmouth Brewery - a 4.7% IPA. The initial tasting fell to a selection of branch members and customers, they all look as though they enjoyed it!
- News & Brews and the AGM Agenda
Friday 7 June 2024
The latest edition of News & Brews will start to hit the streets in the next few days, look out for it in a pub or club near you.
If you cannot wait until then, it is available now, in digital form on this website, see: the Magazine pageThe Agenda for the AGM on 11th June is also available here in the Members area (Log in required)
- Better Transport Week Friday 31 May 2024
- Copperhead Brewery
Friday 24 May 2024
Hi Folks!
We’re Jack and Jordan, and for the past 6 years, we’ve run a small brewery out of our garage in Newton Abbot. You may have had the pleasure of meeting us at Totnes Market, where we’ve been plying our trade for most of that time.
We’re super excited to announce we’re moving our brewery to Totnes, and opening a Taproom, where you can sample our fresh creamy pints for yourself!
We will be open for our first evening of trading on Saturday the 15th of June from 17:00 to 22:00, our Neighbours, the fantastic Tamarind Tree, will be open on the day for food orders from 17:30 to 20:30. Fine fresh pints and beautiful Indian street food, what more could a person want?!
We’d love to see you there!
Have a glance at our website and socials and give us a follow, you can keep up to date with our progress ????
you'll find us at Unit 6, Burke Road, TQ9 5XL
www.copperheadales.co.uk
Very best,
Jack & Jordan
Copperhead Ales - Our Website on the Podium Again
Wednesday 15 May 2024
Following our Gold Award in 2023, this year we were awarded Silver at the Members Weekend in Dundee
- Talk of the Town to re-open
Wednesday 15 May 2024
The Talk of the Town, Paignton's Wetherspoon's, is reported to be re-opening on 4th June after an extensive enlargement and refurbishment
- Burton union sets find a new home in Bakewell
Friday 10 May 2024
Some of the Burton Union sets, recently decommissioned by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Co (CMBC), have found a new home at Thornbridge Brewery.
More details can be found here in an article by Darren for Beer and Cider News
- The Cott Inn wins ‘Pub of the Year’ and ‘Best outside Garden’
Sunday 28 April 2024
The Cott Inn has won ‘Pub of the Year’ and ‘Best outside Garden’ at the Greene King Awards
Mark and Mel have dedicated the award to their staff and loyal customers and would like to thank the entire team for working incredibly hard to achieve this. We are so honoured to be able to share this news with you all. Very well done everyone and thank you as always for your continued support!
Congratulations to all at the Cott Inn, Dartington - Pubs & club of the Year Presentations
Sunday 7 April 2024
The awards for Pub of the Year, Club of the Year and Town Pub of the Year were presented on Saturday 6th April 2024
Details and photos can be found here - BBC Timeshift - History of Pubs
Thursday 4 April 2024
The pub has been the mainstay of British society since medieval times, a cornerstone of any community playing a unique role in national life. But in the past 50 years the pub has undergone massive change. This programme examines the core values of this definitively British institution and questions its survival. With contributions from Jeremy Hardy, Rowan Pelling and Pete Brown. Narrated by Arthur Smith
Available on the i-Player here
- Salcombe Brewery Award
Monday 25 March 2024
Salcombe Brewery have won Silver Award for their Island Street Porter in the 2024 CAMRA South West Regional Competition in the Strong, Stouts and Porters category.
Photo shows Dave Buckler (right), South Devon CAMRA Sunshine Beer & Cider Festival Organiser, presenting Sam Beaman with the award. - Branch Pubs, Club and Cider Pub of the Year 2024 Announced
Friday 22 March 2024
Pub of the Year and Rural Pub of the Year:
The Durant Arms, Ashprington
Presentation of Award: 6th April at 12.30
We have two taxis booked to/from Totnes, both are now full
From Totnes we will travel to Paignton by the Stagecoach Gold bus.Town Pub of the Year:
The Torbay Inn, Paignton
Presentation of Award: 6th April at 4.30pmClub of the Year:
Paignton Conservative Club
Presentation of Award: 6th April at 3pmCider Pub of the Year;
Queen's Arms, Brixham
Presentation of Award: 13th April at 12.30 - Handpump “hijack” will confuse consumers says CAMRA
Thursday 7 March 2024
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company risks confusing drinkers about cask conditioned beers, warns the Campaign for Real Ale, in reaction to a new beer launch which plans to hijack the iconic handpump.
CMBC has announced its plans to start serving keg beer through handpumps, which beer drinkers widely understand as usually being exclusively used for cask conditioned beer.
Keg beer is not a “live” beer, in that once it leaves the brewery it contains no viable yeast, and does not undergo further conditioning, unlike cask-conditioned beers which continue to develop flavour and carbonation in the pub cellar.
While CMBC has indicated that, following feedback from CAMRA, it will label so-called “fresh ale” served through handpumps as “brewery conditioned beer”, the Campaign fears this will still confuse customers and erode their long-held understanding that only cask beer is served in this way.
The Campaign is also concerned that CMBC’s plan will reduce choice to consumers and by taking up handpump space elbows out genuine cask beers produced by smaller, independent brewers.
Beer handpumps on bars have long been the easily recognisable sign of the freshness and quality of cask beer – and CAMRA fully intends to enforce its long-standing policy that beer drinkers should not be misled at the point of dispense through the sale of non-live, non-cask beer through handpumps.
CAMRA National Director and Chair of the Real Ale, Cider and Perry Campaigns Committee, Gillian Hough said: “It’s baffling why CMBC feels the need to serve a keg beer through cask ale handpumps in the first place, when it would seem to be simpler and more honest to simply serve it through keg taps, as with all other keg products.
“It would be even better if this company, despite claiming to be incredibly proud to be a leading brewer of cask ale, actually invested in producing new cask ales and supporting its existing beers. It’s particularly ironic that instead it has spent time closing the historic breweries in their portfolio and now wants to cash in on that cask heritage with a keg product which hijacks the handpump.
“Even with additional labelling, our fear is customers – especially those who perhaps don’t understand a term like “brewery conditioned” or don’t notice the small print- will be confused. It also seems likely that over time this potentially misleading approach will erode the image of the iconic beer handpump as a clear symbol of cask conditioned beer.
“We believe that beer drinkers should be fully informed at the point of dispense and we will continue to condemn dispense practices that seek to mislead the consumer, particularly by selling non-live, non-cask beers through cask beer handpumps.
“CAMRA calls on CMBC to either provide a genuinely live and fresh beer to be served through handpumps, to give the drinker what they expect and want, or to be honest and serve this so-called “fresh beer” through keg taps
- Talk of the Town Paignton
Wednesday 6 March 2024
Progress at the Talk of the Town, Paignton can be seen here - The Inn Sign Society
Tuesday 20 February 2024
Are you interested in pubs and inns, especially the history and meaning of their names, also inn signs and their history?
If so, this could be for you!
The Inn Sign Society
For ONLY £15 a year, you receive 4 quarterly 32 page full colour illustrated Journals packed with articles on all types of inn and pub signs. Members can access our Archives, plus feature pages; ‘Signs of the Month’, 'Sign of the Year’ award, & 'Lost Signs'.More information is available here
- Elland Brewery faces liquidation
Saturday 17 February 2024
CAMRA says government support is vital following the news that Elland brewery is facing liquidation and Adnams is looking for financial support.
CAMRA national chairman Nik Antona said: “To hear that Elland brewery is facing liquidation just six months after its 1872 Porter was crowned CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain 2023 [pictured] is a major cause for concern. This, coupled with the reports that Adnams has been working with a management consultancy to explore options to shore up its finances – including the possibility of an injection of private capital – is a one-two punch at the heart of the UK brewing industry.
More information here - Champion Winter Beer of Britain announced
Friday 16 February 2024
Congratulations to Sarah Hughes Brewery, who has won overall Gold in CAMRA’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition at the Great British Beer Festival Winter for their Snowflake barley wine!
Judges described the beer as a “beautiful amber barley wine. The fruity, slightly spiced nose invited the drinker to indulge. The rich, smooth, sweet palate had orange spicy notes balanced by a growing bitterness, leading to a spicy dry bitterness. Remarkably moreish.”
Congratulations also go to Joint Silver runner ups:
Elland Brewery – 1872 Porter
Muirhouse brewery - Magnum Mild - Minutes of February Branch Meeting
Thursday 15 February 2024
Minutes of February Branch Meeting can be found here
CAMRA log in required - Bays Brewery Charity Brews for 2024
Saturday 10 February 2024
Bays Brewery is saying ‘cheers’ to some top Devon charities throughout 2024 with the launch of four brand new limited-edition ‘Charity Brews’.
Available at various times throughout the year in bottles, cask and beer boxes, each brew will support a worthy local cause in a bid to give something back to the community.
The first charity brew ‘Tracker Ale’ will be available from February, with 5% of proceeds going towards Dartmoor Search & Rescue (Ashburton).
More details of other beers available here
- National Pub of the Year 2023 Announced
Saturday 13 January 2024
CAMRA is very happy to announce that the Tamworth Tap in Tamworth, West Midlands has won a second consecutive National Pub of the Year title.
The judges described it as an "excellent example of a pub at the centre of its community that supports a wide variety of diverse local activity groups, with knowledgeable, helpful staff to help you find a real ale or cider to suit your taste"
More details of the winner and the runners up can be found here
BBC report can be found here
- December Meeting Minutes now available
Monday 8 January 2024
The minutes can be found here
Login is required - Ringwood sales process slammed as a 'sham'
Monday 1 January 2024
Carlsberg Marston’s attempts to find a buyer for the iconic Ringwood Brewery prior to announcing its closure have been branded a “sham”.
More details can be found here
- The Drewe Arms Drewsteignton
Thursday 14 December 2023
Good news for the CAMRA community and congratulations to The Drewsteignton Community Society Limited!
1. Drewe Arms passes into private ownership as the locals unite to save the pub.
2. The Drewe Arms was once home to Britain’s longest serving landlady, Mabel Mudge who served behind the bar for 75 years!
3. The community has bought the historic Grade ll pub.The Drewe Arms on Dartmoor is a thatched grade II inn dating from the 17th Century and included in CAMRA’s national list for historic pub interiors, has been sold to the local community
The inn has been bought by The Drewsteignton Community Society Limited which was created by a number of the local residents who are keen to save the pub and protect it for future generations. The group established a crowd-funding initiative to raise funds to not only purchase the venue, but to start making the necessary repairs and improvements to create a sustainable model and to celebrate the pub’s rich history, location and layout.
Speaking on behalf of the new owners, Toby Rubbra comments: ‘We have all known The Drewe for many years and it had been devastating to see its decline and eventual closure in 2022. Some of us were involved in helping Mabel Mudge with the site when she retired in the early nineties after 75 years behind the bar! Knowing what a great venue it has been and could be, a few of us got together and talked about how we might secure the pub and keep the village as a local hub. These conversations evolved and with considerable help, guidance and community support we are now in the happy position we are in today.’South-West commercial agents Vickery Holman acted for the previous owners of the inn and handling the process, Mike Easton comments, ‘This was truly a rare opportunity to own a piece of Dartmoor’s history and to invest in what we consider a sleeping giant of a venue. Our understanding is that this may be the first time the Drewe has been owned by a private individual, having been under brewery ownership for as long as anyone can remember. The venue offers much, particularly with the underused Long Room (function room) at the rear and the location on the edge of the Moor, right on the Two Moors Way and within 20 minutes of Exeter. I look forward to seeing the pub up and running again and the community’s plans develop, and I would like to thank the community steering group in the positive way they have approached the process.’
It is reported that a public house stood on the site earlier than the current building and there have been various names over the years. It was recorded as the New Inn in the 1890’s and the Druid’s Inn until the 1920’s when it changed again to the name it holds today, The Drewe Arms. This latest name derived from Julius Drewe, the tea merchant who built Castle Drogo nearby. From 1919 until 1994 the Drewe Arms was run by Mabel Mudge, who retired aged 99 after 75 years in situ.
Glyn and Jane Martin, part of the steering group add ‘Now we have completed the purchase, the initial plan will be to open in March next year with ‘pop-up’ events in the meantime. We have engaged Simon Saunders who is a well-respected publican and known to many on Dartmoor. He plans to manage the pub while retaining his own successful business in Chagford. In addition, we will be looking at a better use of the Long room and creating a more efficient use of the kitchen and dining facilities whilst maintaining the key ingredient – that of the heritage of the pub. Longer term we have plans to reintroduce accommodation so that customers can stay and get the true Dartmoor community experience.’Toby concludes ‘In short, we could not have achieved any of this without the financial support of the hundreds of people who have bought shares and donated to the cause and for that we are very thankful. We already know that there will be support for our working parties to start to repair and restore this fantastic Devon Inn and to see our local and wider community give so generously is heartwarming indeed.’
The Drewe Arms was sold off a guide price of £500,000 via www.vickeryholman
- News & Brews Winter edition 2023
Tuesday 12 December 2023
The Winter edition of our popular free branch magazine, News & Brews is published and will be available in a pub near you in the next few days. It contains details of What's On in our area, news of pubs and breweries plus reports of past events and trips concluding with the thoughts of our Grumpy Old Man. If you cannot wait for a hard copy, you can view it on-line here