CAMRA is looking for the next winner of its prestigious Pub Saving Award, which recognises people who have come together to save a pub that would have otherwise been demolished or converted to another use.
The award aims to secure publicity for pub-saving campaigns and encourage others to get involved in saving their local. Last year, the Stoke Ferry Community Enterprise took the crown after rescuing the last pub in the village of Stoke Ferry in Norfolk – the Blue Bell Inn.
Nominations open as CAMRA celebrates its “Summer of Pub” campaign, aimed to encourage pub-going and celebrate the first summer without restrictions. Pubs are encouraged to share events they may be running throughout the summer on CAMRA’s dedicated map at summerofpub.camra.org.uk.
Paul Ainsworth, Chair of CAMRA’s Pub Campaigns Group says: “Pubs continue to close at an alarming rate, facing rising prices, skyrocketing energy bills and a dip in consumer spending. However, those rates of closure would be much higher without the huge number of campaigners around the country who are willing to pull out all the stops to save their local.
“The Pub Saving Award aims to showcase the fantastic achievements of these community groups around the country and inspire others to fight to save their local pub from closure.”
The award can be made to any group which has carried out campaigning activity to save a pub from closure over the last 12 months. To enter the competition simply visit: https://camra.org.uk/pubs-and-clubs/awards/pub-saving-award/ before 14 November with your story.
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Notes to editors:
Purposes of the Award
To acknowledge and reward groups whose campaigning efforts have successfully led to the saving of a pub or pubs which would otherwise probably have been lost;
To achieve publicity for pub-saving campaigning by showing that pubs can be saved through effective campaigning activity, thereby encouraging others to take on such campaigns as and when needed.
Eligibility
The award can be made to any group which, during the year ending 1 November 2022, has carried out campaigning activity that has directly led to the prevention of a pub or pubs being closed.
Successful Criteria
The judges will take into account the following factors:
how the campaign was established, how it set its objectives and how it planned to achieve them;
how it gathered evidence and information relevant to its campaign;
how it engaged with the community and with pub users;
how it achieved publicity for its aims and objectives;
how it went about lobbying and influencing decision-makers; and
most importantly, the successes it actually achieved.
If the nature of the campaign was more general than saving a specific pub, some of these factors will have more weight than others e.g. influencing decision-makers will be a major element.
Entries
You can make a nomination via this link: https://camra.org.uk/pubs-and-clubs/awards/pub-saving-award/
About CAMRA:
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is a not-for-profit consumer group with over 160,000 members that has been operating since 1971. Our vision is to have quality real ale and thriving pubs in every community.
Press release from CAMRA.
For further information, please contact press@camra.org.uk or 01727 337863.