Chelmsford and Mid-Essex

Campaign for Real Ale

Campaign for Real Ale

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

Local Round Up - Crystal Radio Font

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.

Rural Pub Treasure Trail 2022

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.

Boreham - Queens Head

Pub of the Year 2022

Congratulations to Max and Jess at The Queen's Head, Boreham

CME CAMRA Pub of the Year 2022.

Queen's Head Boreham PotY 2022

Runner up was the Orange Tree.

Joint bronze went to the Compasses Littley Green and the Hop Beer Shop.

Congratulations also to Joss, Steve and all the team at the Compasses, Littley Green, who are CME's 2022 Cider Pub of the Year

Compasses Littley Green Cider PotY 2022

and John and team at the Hop Beer Shop for being awarded 2022 Runner-up

The Hop Beer Shop is CME Cider PotY Runner-up 2022
Broads Green - Walnut Tree

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'.

Peter at Walnut Tree Broads Green with TT Champion Club Award

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.

Walnut Tree Broads Green TT Champion Club Plaque Small

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.

Rosemary Cotton Three Compasses West Hanningfield Special Award 2022 Image 1

Click the play button below:
The interview starts around 1:34:45.

Rosemary Cotton Three Compasses West Hanningfield Special Award 2022 Image 2

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! #CaskIsBack
During 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
Click here for the link, tasting tips and a free glass offer!

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.

Hop Beer Shop

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.

Scoring your beers

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.