Campaigning

CAMRA’s main aims are fundamentally promoting real ale, real cider and perry and the traditional British pub. We also encourage the production of uncommon beer varieties and traditional beer styles including stout, porter, mild, as well as traditional cider and perry.

Some of our campaigns include (but are not limited to):

LocAle

LocAle is an initiative that promotes pubs stocking locally brewed real ale in order to reduce the number of ‘beer miles’ from brewery to pub cellar. It is based on growing consumer demand for quality local produce and increasing awareness of environmental issues.

Launched in 2007, CAMRA branches around the country will award accreditation to pubs that regularly stock at least one local real ale. The pub can then advertise their support by posting the window sticker in their pubs.

Some of the benefits of stocking locally produced real ale in local pubs includes:

• Pubs can attract more visitors through their doors, including tourists
• Consumers can enjoy greater beer choice and diversity
• Local brewers are supported with increased sales
• Local economy is supported as more money is generated and spent locally
• Fewer beer miles mean less impact on the environment

Save our Pubs Campaign

CAMRA campaigns to save the Great British Pub from extinction as 14 pubs close their doors each week.

The value of pubs cannot be overstated. The pub and beer industry supports nearly 900,000 jobs in the UK and contributes £23.6bn to the UK economy annually.

CAMRA commissioned research from Oxford University which found that people who have a local pub are happier, have more friends and feel more engaged with their local communities. Many pubs help provide space for the local people to meet, tackle loneliness, and strengthen the local community.

Go to CAMRA’s national website to find out more here.

Mild May

Every May CAMRA branches across the country celebrate ‘Mild May’, an initiative to celebrate and highlight the beer style Mild, which was recently under threat of extinction due to a drop in popularity.

To help revive the Mild beer style, CAMRA branches encourage local pubs to have at least one Mild on the handpumps during the month of May, and some organise trips to pubs and breweries that embrace and support the beer style.

Mild is a beer style which developed in the late 18th and 19th centuries as drinkers started to demand a slightly sweeter and less aggressively hopped beer than Porter. Early milds were much stronger than modern versions, which tend to fall into the 3% to 3.5% category, though a number of brewers are bringing strength back into style.

Mild is usually dark brown in colour, due to the use of well-roasted malts or roasted barley. Look for a rich malty aroma and flavour, with hints of dark fruit, chocolate, coffee and caramel, with a gentle underpinning of hop bitterness.

CAMRA offers you the chance to find a local event near you