Branch News

Our next Branch Social.

Advance notice! Our annual post-Christmas event. A social gathering in some excellent pubs in Manchester. Put a note in your diaries and calendars. Tuesday 30 December 2025. Full info here.

Support TRYANUARY

CAMRA supports the “Tryanuary” initiative, encouraging members to visit and support local pubs, breweries and tap rooms in January to help businesses during a traditionally quiet month.

If you choose to abstain from alcohol during the month of January, you can still support your local pub by enjoying a meal out perhaps, or simply partaking in a non-alcoholic drink.

Pubs Need You throughout the year, and we can all help during January when customer numbers are down. Why not visit pubs you have never been to before, or revisit a pub from the past, or just go to your local.

Last year one of our members succeeded in visiting 30 different pubs in January; 19 for the first time. This year he aims to visit 31 pubs he has never been to before, one for each day of the month. If that sounds too daunting, then you can always create a target that is more achievable for you, but please support our pubs during the month of January. So why not give Tryanuary a go, and send an email in February, to ku.gro.armac.bor@pihsrebmem to let us know where you went.

Greater Manchester Area Pub of The Year 2025

It is with pride that we announce our very own POTY, the Fox and Pine in Oldham has been crowned as the Greater Manchester Area Pub of the Year. The runners-up were Sherringtons in Wigan and B33R@33 in Horwich. Unfortunately the Fox and Pine did not win the North West Regional competition which was won by The Cumberland Arms, Alston (Cumbria).

Branch Pub of the Year 2025

Our Branch Pub of the Year for 2025 is the Fox and Pine for the fourth straight year. It was also Oldham Pub of the Year

Rochdale POTY - The Flying Horse

Bury POTY - Irwell Works Brewery Tap and Broad Street Social (joint first)

More about AWARDS here.

Branch Magazine

Our Branch magazine "More Beer" is produced quarterly. The most recent issue is shown here. A link to an online version will be available soon.

For previous issues go to the Branch Magazine page.

Good Beer Guide 2027

Nominations for the next Good Beer Guide (2027) are now closed and a shortlist of pubs for consideration has been created

To recap we have around 300 pubs and clubs in the branch serving Real Ale and are allowed only 35 from our branch in the guide. Competition is therefore very fierce and we must ensure only the very best get in the guide. Surveys are now underway and final selection will be made at a meeting at the Flying Horse on 14 February 2026 at 12:30

If you are interested in taking part in pub surveys for GBG contact Andy on the e mail address below and he will give you the full details and instructions - a survey form can be accessed here GBG 2027 PUB SURVEY FORM (ROB)

Greater Manchester Area Club of the Year 2025

We are extremely proud to announce that our Branch Club of the Year, Dobcross Band and Social Club, was judged to be the Greater Manchester Area Club of the Year. Furthermore, after going through to the North West Regional round, it was awarded Runner-Up! Well done to all at this vibrant and community focussed club. Presentations were held at the club in early August 2025. See full details on our Clubs page. Clubs

Social Media

Catch up on our recent activity and other pub/beer related matters & join in the conversations. Click the logos to visit our Social Media pages.

National News

Act now to save pubs from closure

Use this link to use the template tool.

The following is an urgent appeal from our National Chairman, Ash Corbett-Collins, issued 9th December 2025.

“Pubs and breweries face having to pay £1000s more in business rates next year due to changes announced in the recent Budget. This is the last thing our locals need.

Whilst the Budget promised permanently lower business rates for pubs, the reality is very different. Because the 40% discount on business rates bills is ending at the same time as a business rates revaluation, pubs face paying more from April 2026.
This really is make-or-break for thousands of pubs in communities across England. Please take a minute to use our template email tool to contact your MP and ask for a rethink. ­ We need MPs and the Government to understand just how angry consumers, licensees and brewers are at the prospect of businesses having to pay bigger business rates bills on top of all the other increased costs like energy bills, Employer National Insurance and alcohol duties.

Please email your MP to make sure they get the message loud and clear, and put pressure on the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Government to look again at this. Without any changes from the Government we risk thousands of more pubs being forced to close their doors for good.
Sending a quick email to your MP really does make all the difference to our campaigning.

Thank you for your help.”

If you don't know who your MP is check Find your MP and you can write to them at the House of Commons.

Farewell to the WhatPub website

The WhatPub website is no longer being maintained, and was closed down on 10th December 2025.

Users may have noticed that there has been for some while now, an option to switch to the new CAMRA website. We hope that users will familiarise themselves with it. It has some really useful functions, like scoring beers, updating pub/club information, searching for beer festivals and even creating your own “trip” such as a tour of pubs. Why not give it a go now? CAMRA National website: National CAMRA A pictorial guide to beer-scoring on mobile phones will soon be available….watch this space.

Good Beer Guide 2026

Have you got yours yet? Click the image to order one. Members should log in to secure a discount!

Fresh Ale & Handpump Hijack Campaign

For generations, a handpump on the bar has been a sign of quality. Where cask is well kept, consumers can be sure of a spotless cellar, well-trained bar staff and a commitment to offering the best of UK brewing. Now, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) – one of the world’s largest brewery conglomerates – has resorted to misleading consumers by hijacking the handpump to serve its “Fresh Ale” product. CMBC says this is “preserving the beloved hand pull ritual that delivers the traditional theatre of serve that ale is famed for”. CAMRA believes consumers deserve better than CMBC play acting at serving cask – a product they claim to champion while closing breweries and removing cask lines from bars. Our handpump hijack campaign calls on brewers to be proud of all their whole range of beers by serving them in a way that won’t mislead their customers. Read more, including How to report Fresh Ale if you see it, on our Campaigning Locally page Campaigning locally

Good Beer Guide App

Notice of shutdown of Good Beer Guide App

Following the launch of the CAMRA website, which includes free access for members to Good Beer Guide information, the GBG app will be closed for all users. Members will have free access via the website and non-members will be able to subscribe for 99p per month. During the week commencing 18 August, no new customers will be able to purchase the app and when existing users’ renewals come up they will not be able to renew. The GBG app will remain functional for the next 12 months so any access will remain for existing users during the full term of their subscription.