Welcome to the Web Site of the Chelmsford and Mid-Essex Branch of CAMRA - The Campaign for Real Ale
Future Beer and Cider Festivals Update
The Branch Committee understands that many people ask about the beer festivals run by Chelmsford and Mid Essex CAMRA which were cancelled due to COVID. This update will provide the current position.
The Branch plans, organises and runs the winter and summer festivals on behalf of CAMRA HQ and it is clear from them that our summer festivals in the future will be significantly smaller and we cannot for the time being consider anything like our great events held in Admirals Park. With this in mind we've been looking at a number of options and suitable venues which reduce significantly the initial start up costs and the number of person-hours required to plan, set up/take down and run the event. For example, in negotiations with one preferred venue we were unable to agree on a suitable price for the venue which would have allowed the festival to be viable.
After CAMRA gave the go ahead for festivals earlier this year it was always going to be difficult to arrange a summer festival in 2022 in the time available and after much discussion we are now concentrating on the return of the winter festival in 2023 with Paul Murrell continuing as the Winter Beer Festival Organiser (BFO).
Looking forward, we now wish to appoint a BFO for summer 2023. CAMRA have produced guidelines for the role and this can be accessed through this link.The role would suit one person or shared with someone else.
It is no secret that the role of BFO is varied and sometimes challenging and for this the guidelines state the person must have the following skills:
- Good organisational skills.
- Good communication skills, both in writing and in person.
- Access to a computer and the internet is essential.
- Ability to chair and control meetings.
- Ability to delegate.
If you would like to be considered for this role (singly or sharing) please email CME Chair Paul Sharp by 31st July 2022.
If you wish to discuss this role prior to deciding please contact Paul Sharp on 07815 051097.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Branch Committee
Chelmsford and Mid Essex CAMRA

Cricketers' Arms Danbury Beer Festival Friday 8th - Sunday 10th July
The Cricketers' Arms, Danbury is throwing a beerfest between Friday 8th and Sunday 10th July, with a BBQ and live music courtesy of the Allykats on Friday evening, and Simone Perks then Rachel Brooks on Saturday.
Compasses Littley Green 'Beers+Gears' Hopstock Festival 19th-21st August
Essex' Cider PotY is holding its 'Beers+Gears' themed Hopstock festival between Friday 19th and Sunday 21st August. Note the eye-catching offer of a free half pint for cyclists!
Queen's Head Boreham Pizza and Pint Festival 25th-29th August
Live entertainment throughout and no fewer than 30 beers and 30 ciders. Craft beer and German lagers also available. More details to follow...
Woolpack 20p CAMRA Reduction
The Woolpack are offering 20p off their cask ales range, to CAMRA members presenting a valid membership card.
Orange Tree CAMRA Tuesdays
The Orange Tree, Chelmsford are offering 10% discount every Tuesday, to CAMRA members presenting a valid membership card.
CME Rural Pub Treasure Trail 2022
A chance to explore some of our great rural pubs, find the clues, score the beers and ciders and enjoy yourselves. Answers to follow on the website in September, click the image above to download a printable PDF.
Twitter / chelmsfordCAMRA
Follow chelmsfordCAMRA on twitter
- Tuesday 7 June, 19:44 : .@thehopstock will be hosting #Beers and Gears a wonderful festival bringing together #music and #cycling with #ales and #ciders. @ChelmsfordCAMRA will be making a special presentation - so watch out for more details. #CheersChelmsford 🍻 🍺♥️ #Chelmsford #Essex #Felsted pic.twitter.com/4cvNpbmpDq
- Tuesday 7 June, 19:42 : The Hurdlemaker Arms in Woodham Mortimer near #Danbury is holding a #Beer Festival at the end of #June Get down and enjoy a nice pint! #CheersChelmsford 🍻 🍺♥️ #Chelmsford #Essex pic.twitter.com/HEenxBoBrp
- Saturday 4 June, 16:06 : RT @TheOTChelmsford: Now on tap at The OT 🍺 Brentwood Bizzy Lizzy 4.3% abv See the full range on our Beer board: the-ot.com/beers.html #RealAleFinder @BrentwoodBrewCo @ChelmsfordCAMRA #SupportYourLocal #ChelmsfordPub #EveryDayIsABeerFestival pic.twitter.com/FnDc9Ezb3g
- Sunday 29 May, 18:35 : The Endeavour #Chelmsford is having a #beer festival over the Jubilee weekend with 12 different real ales on offer. Also, @WoolpackEssex is having a #Jubliee festival on 4th June and a @TimothyTaylors tap takeover. #CheersChelmsford 🍻 #PlatinumJubilee ♥️🍺 #Essex pic.twitter.com/aNlXasqXFn
- Thursday 26 May, 08:12 : RT @colCAMRA: @CheeseAndPieMan will be joining us again next week for our #beer and #cider festival. We'll also have our usual range of snacks & of course there's some lovely food establishments within walking distance of @ColchesterArts too. @VisitColchester @wscBeer @ChelmsfordCAMRA pic.twitter.com/9veev3bsXi
Pub of the Year 2022
Congratulations to Max and Jess at The Queen's Head, Boreham
CME CAMRA Pub of the Year 2022.

Runner up was the Orange Tree.
Joint bronze went to the Compasses Littley Green and the Hop Beer Shop.
Timothy Taylor's Brewery awards Champion Club status to Walnut Tree, Broads Green
Congratulations to Peter at the Walnut Tree, Broads Green on being elevated to Tim Taylor brewery's 'Champion Club'.

Champion Club status is awarded to pubs that have had Timothy Taylor's beers on for more than six months, are committed to stocking TT's brews in future, have strong sales volume and crucially, serve well-kept and well conditioned beers.
The accolade is accompanied by a benefits package for the pub, including premium metal pump clips and Point of Sale items. Full details of the club package are here (scroll about two-thirds down).

The Three Compasses, West Hanningfield on the Radio
Chelmsford & Mid-Essex CAMRA were back on Chelmsford Community Radio 104.4 FM on Saturday 29th January. To mark CME's Special Presentation for over 50 years at the pub, Ollie Rogers of Chelmsford Community Radio 104.4 FM interviewed Rosemary Cotton of the Three Compasses, West Hanningfield.
Click the play button below:
The interview starts around 1:34:45.
Mighty Oak's 'The Old Man and the Sea' Awarded CME National Beer Scoring System Winner for 2021
Steve Waldock, CME's National Beer Scoring System co-ordinator, is pictured below left, presenting a Special Award to John Boyce, Mighty Oak's director.

Mighty Oak describes their brew as a "...Rich black creamy stout with satisfying malt flavours of espresso coffee, dark chocolate and a hint of dark fruit..."


Crouch Vale 40th Anniversary
Rob Walster, landlord of the Prince of Wales at Stow Maries, presented this certificate from Maldon and Dengie CAMRA to Colin Bocking celebrating 40 years of Crouch Vale Brewery.
Rob and Colin started the brewery together 40 years ago.
City Of Ales Trails
Grab your COAT and explore! Chelmsford & Mid-Essex CAMRA celebrate our sensational pub scene with our Chelmsford City of Ales Trails - or COAT for short.
Six trails with 5/7 Real Ale serving pubs in and around Chelmsford using footpaths and bus routes.
Click here for all the information on the trails of ales.
Lockdown Heroes - Endeavour
This is Tina and Mike of the Endeavour in Chelmsford receiving their Lockdown Hero Award.
CME CAMRA back on the Radio
Chelmsford & Mid-Essex CAMRA were back on Chelmsford Community Radio on Saturday 29th May. To hear what we had to say about #PubsMatter and getting people back into the pub, click the play button below:The interview starts around 1:07:25.
Cask is Back
A new campaign is calling on beer drinkers to back British brewing and pubs, and opt for a pint of fresh cask beer from a local independent brewery when they return to pubs! #CaskIsBackDuring lockdown, some 5 MILLION pints of cask beer from small independent breweries had to be poured away, with the brewers who made it left to foot the bill. Cask is BACK - so back CASK!
Beer Tasting Live
If you missed it, you can still watch our first Beer Tasting Live Event.This was hosted by David Sherman, Chair of Essex CAMRA's Tasting Panel.
The selected beers were:
- Black Sheep Ale 50cl
- Kernel Export Indian Porter 50cl
- Oscar Wilde Mild 50cl
- Jaipur IPA 33cl
- Death or Glory 33cl
- Sam Smith's Lager 35.5cl
Happy 50th!
March 16th is CAMRA's 50th birthday. The CAMRA website has a section to mark this event including:Festival Glasses
One of our members, Colin Mitson, has some festival glasses that need to find good homes to go to.The full list is may be downloaded here. Please take a look, and see if there is anything you can offer a good home to.

Lockdown Heroes
During the September meeting of the branch commitee, it was thought that as a gesture of appreciation we should recognise those pubs and local breweries that did something extra special during the lockdown.
If you cannot see your CME Lockdown Hero here, then send us an email and let us know your reasons.
Bishop Nick
Chelmsford Brew Co
Endeavour Chelmsford
Black Bull Chelmsford
Leather Bottle Pleshey
Oddfellows Smoke House Chelmsford
Orange Tree Chelmsford
Wheatsheaf Writtle
Brew2You
Easily search for local beer, cider and perry nearby available to order by delivery and or collection. Help support the industry by shopping local using the Brew2You app!
Brew2You was created by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) to support pubs and breweries during a time where trade is low and to help reduce wastage of beer.
Our aim is to bring people and great beer from great local businesses together.
Twitter / WBOnline_
- Thursday, 11:32 : UK pub’s colour bar revealed wb.camra.org.uk/2022/07/06/pub…
- Wednesday, 13:00 : Plan your July Festival trip now! wb.camra.org.uk/2022/07/06/pla…
- Wednesday, 12:32 : Sneak peek - the World’s Greatest Beers wb.camra.org.uk/2022/07/01/sne…
- Tuesday, 08:45 : Natural Selection back with Buck Wild wb.camra.org.uk/2022/07/02/nat…
- Monday, 13:13 : Celebrate Independence Day with American craft beer wb.camra.org.uk/2022/07/02/cel…
- Sunday, 08:45 : Double first for collaboration brew wb.camra.org.uk/2022/07/01/dou…
- Friday 1 July, 08:45 : Many pubs won’t survive economic storm wb.camra.org.uk/2022/06/28/man…
- Thursday 30 June, 10:50 : Maisie’s Mean Tweets to boost cask ale sales wb.camra.org.uk/2022/06/28/mai…
- Wednesday 29 June, 07:45 : Double celebration for returning festival wb.camra.org.uk/2022/06/27/dou…
- Tuesday 28 June, 08:37 : Innovation secures top prize for hop grower wb.camra.org.uk/2022/06/21/inn…
Cider Pub of the Year 2020
Congratulations to John and his team at The Hop Beer Shop, three years in a row!
CME CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year 2020.
Runner up was King William IV, Braintree.
Square and Compasses, Fuller Street was highly commended.
Recommended Pub Guide 2020
This guide highlights fantastic pubs in our branch area which have been selected for the quality of their real ale, features and attractiveness.
All are surveyed and updated by local CAMRA members on whatpub.com throughout the year.
Rural Pub Trail
Originally planned to finish at the 2020 Summer beer and Cider Festival, this has now been extended so the free tokens can be used the next time we have a festival.
Collect a special mark or stamp from each pub when you visit and order a half or pint of real Ale or Cider.
Click here to download the trail guide.
...or click here if you just want a list of the pubs.
Score Your Beers!!!
If you are a CAMRA member, we want you to tell us about the quality of beer in the pubs you visit.
The National Beer Scoring System (NBSS) is a 0-5 point scale for judging beer quality in pubs. It is an easy to use system that has been designed to assist CAMRA branches in selecting pubs for the Good Beer Guide and also monitor beer quality by encouraging CAMRA members from any part of the world to report beer quality on any pub in the UK.
You can now score your beers using the Good Beer Guide App making it easier than ever to help promote pubs serving great beer.