With the huge number of visitors coming to London this summer, the London branches of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, are coordinating a campaign to show what a fantastic variety of pubs and beer the Capital has to offer in 2012.
This two month celebration is being launched on Wednesday 4th July at the Ealing Beer Festival in West London, which will have around 200 real ales from both London and the rest of Britain.
Christine Cryne, CAMRA Director, said ‘London was once known as the capital of the world for beer with the exporting of its famous brews all around the globe. Today, although there are fewer breweries, London has recently seen a growth in the number of its small brewers, which is being embraced wholeheartedly by Londoners. There are now 24 with at least another two in the offering that we know of. But of course, London’s reputation for fine pubs has always been there with some of the best in the UK to be found here; many have been places where history has been made’.
She continued ‘Research has shown that over 60% of visitors to Britain say that they will visit a pub when they come to visit. The beer sponsor for the Olympics is Dutch brewer, Heineken, but we want to show visitors that we are proud of our British heritage and introduce them to what great beer and pubs we have in the Capital. CAMRA’s London branches are coordinating this campaign to promote what we have to offer. We want to raise the profile of great British beer and pubs during the summer but we’d also like Londoners to get involved with the celebrations – it will be a summer to remember and they shouldn’t miss out!’
A website is up and running (http://www.londoncityofbeer.org.uk) and lists activities involving beer and breweries across London including many that are free. They include:
- Brewery trips and open events at many London’s brewers -some are one offs so don’t miss some unique opportunities.
- Meet the brewer events.
- Pub crawls – guided and self guided around some of London’s treasures.
- Special beer events including beer launches, beer tastings, beer and music events and events at unusual places such as London Zoo.
- And of course beer festivals starting with CAMRA’s Ealing Beer Festival (www.ealingbeerfest.org.uk) under tents on Walpole Park to the biggest of them all, the Great British Beer Festival (www.gbbf.org.uk).
The launch will take place at 2pm at the Ealing Beer Festival in Walpole Park on 4th July where some of Britain’s wonderful brews will be on offer to taste. If you would like to attend please RSVP to Christine Cryne (contact below).
For further information contact
Christine Cryne, CAMRA Director: londoncityofbeer@gmail.com; 07932 736827
John Cryne, CAMRA Regional Director: 07802 174861
Additional information
- The promotional campaign runs during July and August.
- All events are listed on the website free of charge.
- A number of events are free and many others have a nominal charge.
- There are some 5000 pubs in London and around two dozen breweries and pub breweries now operating with at least another two in the pipeline.
- In addition to the website, the London branches of CAMRA has produced a special edition of their London Drinker Magazine: ‘A Visitors’ Guide to London’, featuring pubs that appeal to a wide variety of visitors including heritage pubs, pubs near markets and pubs with good food to name just a few of the categories. There will even be mention of pubs selling real cider. This will be available on the website, in selected London pubs and other outlets.
- CAMRA has over eleven branches in Greater London and 140,000 members nationwide.
- CAMRA celebrated its 40th birthday in 2011.