News
Cask Ale Week 2025
Show your support for our pubs by joining in the Cask Ale Week festivities (Thurs 18th Sept – Sun 28th Sept).
Cask Ale Week is a celebration of Britain’s national drink. It aims to engage and support breweries and pubs to organise events that encourage customers to discover – and fall in love with – real ale.
Cask ale lovers can search for participating events by visiting https://caskaleweek.co.uk/map/ and via the CaskFinder app
Here is one that we found.
Lucky Duck - Rochdale, All cask ales £3.40 Weds 24th September 2025
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
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).
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.
WhatPub website
The WhatPub website will be closed down on 1st October 2025.
Users may have noticed that there has been for some while now, an option to switch to the new CAMRA website. It is recommended that users 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
Good Beer Guide 2027
Selections for the next GBG (2027) will commence on 1st November 2025.
Greater Manchester Club of the Year
We are extremely proud to announce that Dobcross Band and Social Club has been judged to be the Greater Manchester Regional Club of the Year. Well done to all at this vibrant and community focussed club. A presentation will be held at the club in the near future, details to follow.
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)
Branch Magazine
Our Branch magazine "More Beer" is produced quarterly. The most recent issue is shown here. Click the image for the online version. The image to the right shows an earlier magazine Header, before a re-design exercise.
For previous issues go to the Branch Magazine page.
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Club News
We are always looking to find out about any clubs in our branch which sell real ale. Our Clubs Officer, Peter Sheldon, would be delighted to hear from you at ku.gro.armac.bor@sbulc
Or visit the Clubs page
Local Pubs and Beer festivals
There are many of the pubs and other organisations in our Branch area that run beer festivals, details will be added here: National, Regional and Local Beer Festivals
For our Local Pubs follow the link
Would you like to do some Campaigning locally?
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