NEWS

2025 winners of the British Guild of Beer Writers Awards - Credit Photo - Cath Harries The British Guild of Beer Writers has announced the shortlist for its prestigious awards, celebrating beer, pub and cider journalists, bloggers, broadcasters and all-around communicators. Work was entered into 14 separate categories for a chance to win an esteemed award and prize money, with judges reviewing 232 pieces of work. All entries were judged by the Guild’s independent panel, compo

A brewery in Sheffield have taken home Gold in the North East of England's most prestigious beer competition, the Indie Beer Awards North East, held at the Brew York Beer Hall in York. Little Critters Brewery were named Overall Champions in the Indie Beer Awards (Keg) with their 'Buffalo Charge' American Brown Ale, just a few weeks after the same beer was crowned Champion Beer of Sheffield by real ale consumer group CAMRA. The Indie Beer Awards North East include entries from

Tickets on sale now for three days of celebration of British pubs and cask beer CAMRA’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition returns to Liverpool Beer Festival for the second year running at the atmospheric Lutyens’ Crypt at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. The Winter Champion will be crowned during the festival’s afternoon session on Thursday 18 February. The winner's beer will be on sale while stocks last, as part of the 200 plus beers and ciders on offer. The Champ

Latest purchase strengthens dining, room and functions capability Pub operator Brakspear is expanding its Honeycomb Houses managed division with the acquisition of The Stroud Hotel in the heart of the Cotswold town. The deal for the landmark Grade II-listed hotel brings the number of Honeycomb Houses sites to 13, and also expands Brakspear’s presence in the Stroud area, where it already owns The Egypt Mill Hotel in Nailsworth and The Kings Head Hotel in Cirencester. Having re

Greene King has won the Most Impactful Collaboration Project award at the WiHTL Inclusion in Awards for its Releasing Potential programme, recognising the company’s collective work with its partners to create sustainable employment opportunities for prison leavers. The WiHTL Inclusion in Awards recognise organisations, teams and individuals helping to advance inclusion and drive positive change across the hospitality, travel, leisure and retail sectors. The award, presented o

OLD FRIENDS. FRESH PINTS. The music-led brewery’s new festive pale celebrates old friends, favourite haunts and the soundtrack to coming home. Signature Brew is bringing a new Christmas No.1 to the local this festive period. A 4% fruity pale ale with hints of orange peel, mango and resinous pine, the seasonal release celebrates the annual return to old haunts, familiar faces and the songs everyone still knows by heart. There’s a message in the group chat. Someone’s back in to

The Derby, located on Prince Edward Road in South Shields, officially reopened on Thursday 29th October following a transformational investment of £322,923. The pub is part of Proper Pubs, the award-winning community wet-led operator division of Admiral Taverns, which operates more than 200 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales. Behind the bar is community operator Gary Thorius, who has extensive experience in the hospitality industry and has led the pub for 15 years alread

We're starting to put together our annual Christmas gift guide for our 40,000+ ale trailers, and we'd love to include some brilliant beer books. We're on the lookout for new/new-ish must-reads for beer lovers – whether that's a recently published title, a great stocking filler, or even an absolute classic that every beer enthusiast should have on their bookshelf. If any member has written a book they would like us to consider, could you please ask them to send details to...

Geipel Brewing in North Wales take home coveted award After Monty’s brewery in Powys took home the Silver in CAMRA’s Champion Bottled Beer of Britain competition last year, a different Welsh brewer went one better this year. North Wales’ Geipel Brewing struck gold in this year’s judging at Norwich Beer Festival, with their golden wheat beer, Hefeweizen – the first Welsh brewery to ever take the title. Geipel, which primarily focuses on brewing lagers, is run by American Eric

One of the City of London’s most historic pubs, the East India Arms, has reopened following a refurbishment by independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame. Situated on Fenchurch Street in the heart of the City, the traditional London pub has been serving the capital’s workers, residents and visitors since 1829. Its history as a drinking establishment stretches back even further, as the Magpie Ale House previously occupied the site from at least 1645. The East Ind

A Kölsch for Christmas, and Christmas Only! South London brewery Orbit Beers is set to release the annual edition of their Christmas beer Jolly Saint Nico on November 2nd 2026. A limited, festive edition of Orbit’s multi-award-winning, flagship Lager Nico, with the addition of winter spices. Similar to Nico, Jolly Saint Nico is now gluten-free and vegan-friendly. A lightly carbonated Köln-style lager to pair perfectly with Christmas dinner, and the ideal stocking filler for b

The Boars Head, located on Willow Street in Oswestry, officially reopened on Thursday 29th October following an investment of over £450,000. The pub is part of Proper Pubs, the award-winning community wet-led operator division of Admiral Taverns, which operates more than 200 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales. Behind the bar is passionate community hero, Sam Morris, who brings a wealth of industry experience and local knowledge to The Boars Head. Sam's expertise, combine

Pub campaigners highlight misleading sales tactics over pub properties CAMRA has issued a warning to potential developers looking at buying pubs for conversion, explaining that the sales tactics and details of the property listings are misleading and unenforceable under current planning rules. Since 2017, any change of use of a pub in England needs planning permission, so the decision that non-pub use can apply is one for local authorities to make, not developers or pub group

Kelham Island Brewery has brought back a classic from its archive: Brooklyn Smoked Porter, a collaboration with Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery. First brewed in 2006, when Sheffield Council was considering naming a bridge in the Kelham Island area the “Brooklyn Bridge”. After a successful run in cask last year, it will return in this format, and in keg and can for the first time. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Br

Independent Brighton brewery Lost Pier Brewing is putting its critically acclaimed 0.5% Nitro Stout in the spotlight this winter, offering dark beer fans and mindful drinkers a decadent option to enjoy in bars or at home throughout Christmas and Dry January. First introduced to rave reviews and commended at the World Alcohol Free Awards 2026, Lost Pier’s 0.5% Nitro Stout delivers full-bodied luxury without the alcohol. The judges’ tasting note at the awards stated that Nitro

Norfolk farmhouse brewery brings its four-strong family of beers including its fastest-selling cask beer, to independent venues from Glasgow to Bristol. Norfolk's Duration Brewing is bringing its Duck Series to over 30 independent pubs, bars and bottle shops across the UK from Friday 6 November to Sunday 8 November, for a national launch weekend called Ducks in a Row. Drinkers from Glasgow to Bristol will have the chance to explore the four-strong family of beers, from Rubber

Bunta Beer raises the bar with first-ever glass bottle launch Indian-inspired alcohol-free lager elevates the drinking experience with a premium new format, debuting exclusively at Romy Gill MBE's The Pem on 3 November LONDON, 3 NOVEMBER 2026 – Bunta Beer, the independent Indian-inspired craft beer brand founded by entrepreneur Gunikka Ahuja, has launched its first-ever 330ml glass bottles, marking a new chapter in its ambitions to establish itself across premium bars, restau

Three pubs and restaurants operated by independent Peak District hospitality group Longbow Venues have been named among the top 10% worldwide in the 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards. The Peacock at Owler Bar, on the outskirts of Sheffield, The Maynard in Grindleford and The Ashford Arms in Ashford-in-the-Water have each received the prestigious accolade, which recognises businesses consistently earning excellent reviews from travellers. Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choic

The Alverley Inn, located on Springwell Lane in Doncaster, officially reopened on Thursday 29th October following a transformational investment of more than £698,669. The pub is part of Proper Pubs, the award-winning community wet-led operator division of Admiral Taverns, which operates more than 200 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales. Behind the bar is operator Beverley Cooper, who has extensive experience in the hospitality industry. Her expertise, combined with her en

Popular community pub, the Bull & Bush on Sullington Road in Shepshed officially reopen on Saturday 31st October following a transformational combined investment of over £230,000 from the licensee, Craig Issacs and Admiral Taverns, the UK’s leading community pub company. This refurbishment has breathed a new lease of life into the Bull & Bush to elevate and modernise the overall look and feel of the pub – whilst still retaining its traditional feel and welcoming atmosphere –