Campaigning locally
Introduction
There are many ways of campaigning for real ale, both locally and during any National Campaigns - which is basically why we all joined CAMRA anyway! Campaigns can range from group events, like peaceful protesting, (including marching with banners as this Branch did when the Oldham Brewery was closed down), to an individual walking into a pub and asking for a pint of real ale - if they haven't got any, politely ask the reason, and suggest some locally brewed beers by Local Breweries. There are many things that can be done without even stepping out of your house. If your local pub is under threat of closure, you can try Saving your local pub. Even before it gets that, far you can call for a Fair deal for your local
Modern campaigning methods rely to a great extent on local members signing online petitions, and using pre-prepared templates for submission to MPs. These are provided by CAMRA and other interested bodies, and enable members to register their views very quickly. The term “e-lobbying” has been coined to describe this type of activism. If you come across an appeal to sign a petition or lobby your MP in this way, please do take part.
The 2025 Budget
The following extract from CAMRA’s Public Affairs Round-up in early December 2025 summarises our pre-Budget approach.
“To recognise pubs as regulated community spaces that help tackle social isolation, improve wellbeing and stop people from drinking cheap supermarket alcohol at home, CAMRA asked the chancellor to:
* reduce VAT on food and alcohol served in pubs
* reverse or reform increased Employer National Insurance contributions
* make the energy market for businesses fairer to stop pubs and breweries being hit hard by huge bills
* introduce a fairer system of business rates for pubs in England so bricks-and-mortar businesses aren’t disadvantaged compared to online ones
* significantly cut alcohol duty on beer and cider served in pubs, clubs and taprooms.
More than 4,000 beer lovers and pubgoers used CAMRA’s e-lobby to ask their MP to back beer and pubs in the Budget, resulting in Parliamentary Questions being asked on its behalf for UK breweries, pubs and drinkers.”
This is a great example of how individual members can voice their concerns to the authorities, and demand change.
To read more on the outcomes of the budget, please read CAMRA’s Public Affairs Round-up
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.
Fresh Ale & the Handpump Hijack
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”.Well 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.
What is ‘Fresh Ale’? One of the factors that makes cask unique is that it doesn’t leave the brewery as a finished product. Instead, the conditioning that completes the brewing process is done at the pub, and relies on the skills, timing and experience of the staff and licensee. On the other hand, most beers, including lagers, kegged beers, and ‘Fresh Ale’ are ready to drink when they leave the brewery. These beers have a longer shelf life, and can be easier to serve. Brewers often make both these types of beer, and CAMRA believes they should market them accordingly, so consumers know what they’re getting. ‘Fresh Ale’ is not a cask beer, and hijacking a handpump to sell it as if it was is unfair and misleading to pub-goers.
More information is available here. Handpump Hijack
Assets of Community Value
The following information is taken from the National Camra Website Nominating a pub as ACV - A CAMRA Guide
Information for CAMRA Branches
CAMRA is working with branches across the country to protect valued local pubs by listing them as Assets of Community Value.
Want to list your pub as an Asset of Community Value?
•There are two ways to nominate your pub as an ACV. Either download our Online Nomination Form (see link above to National Camra website) and fill out the details with information on your local pub.
•Fill out the local council form yourselves and CAMRA's Support Team will provide you with the land registry documents needed to submit the application. Simply email ku.gro.armac@vca
Why is listing an ACV so important for the Branch?
•Have more of a say over what happens to pubs in your local community. You will be consulted if any pub you have nominated is threatened
•Nominating your pub removes the permitted development rights which ensures the pub is protected in planning law should it come under threat
•Connect with other local groups, members of the community, MPs and Councillors to campaign to protect your local pub
•Engage positively with licensees
Lobby your MP
Any member can write to their MP about various issues (plans to convert a pub for instance). Your MP may well be a member of All Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) or All Party ParliamentaryGroup Pubs. These groups can be quite influential and can help us ensure that such things as planning laws are changed so that no pub can be demolished or suffer a change of use, without going through due planning processes.
The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group published its latest report How Brewing and Pubs can Help Drive Economic Growth in October 2025.
If you don't know who your MP is check Find your MP and you can write to them at the House of Commons. Here is a suggested guide on how to Lobby your MP. In addition, MPs have the Parliamentary right to propose Early day motions (EDMs) that can be very persuavive and gain cross party support. Once an EDM is lodged, if it is sympathetic with CAMRA's cause, you may be asked to contact your MP to get them to support any particular EDM
Lobby your Councillor
You can write or speak to your local councillor about various issues and below are examples that could have been asked of any candidate at local elections. They are still "in date":
1. Have you heard of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, and what is your understanding of what CAMRA does?
2. Are you aware of what, if any, policies to protect pubs and other valued community amenities your local council has in place?
3. Do you support the extension of pub protection policies in your area?
4. What do you consider to be the biggest challenge facing community pubs in your area?
5. Do you support the extension of planning protection for pubs threatened with demolition or change of use into betting shops or supermarket chain stores?
6. Do you support greater use of the provisions of the Sustainable Communities Act to empower local people? How would you encourage wider awareness and use of this Act?
7. Do you agree that well-run community pubs are part of the solution to alcohol misuse rather than the problem, and this should be reflected in local licensing policies? With that in mind, would you support measures to ensure that well-run community pubs in the area are exempt from the proposed new late night levy on licensed premises?
8. If you are elected, will you consider holding meetings and surgeries in a local pub?
9. Do you support the provision of locally-produced food and drink, including locally-brewed real ale at local council functions?
Don't know who your councillor is?
Who is your Councillor for Rochdale?;
Who is your Councillor for Oldham?
Who is your Councillor for Bury?
Trading Standards
If you have any issues relating to such things as the pub's lack of price list, refusal to fill your pint, price queries etc., you should contact your local Trading Standards office.. The Trading Standards Service is divided broadly into two main areas of work, namely Consumer Advice and Trading Standards Enforcement.
If you would like more information about issues relating to Trading Standards this is available at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, a one-stop-shop for consumer protection information in the UK.