Campaign for real ale
About CAMRACAMRA Explained
Campaign for Real Ale
CAMRA is one of the most successful consumer organisations across Europe. Founded by four real ale enthusiasts back in 1971, today we represent over 190,000 members across the UK. We aim to see good quality real ale, cider and perry in thriving pubs and clubs across every community. We do this by encouraging beer-drinking and pub-going with our beer festivals, pub finders and awards, and by lobbying Government for change to best support the industry.
CAMRA Members
CAMRA Festivals
WhatPub Pubs
CAMRA Branches
What is CAMRA?
What Is CAMRA?
CAMRA stands for Campaign for Real Ale
CAMRA is considered one of the most successful consumer organisations across Europe. Founded by four real ale enthusiasts back in 1971, today we represent nearly 200,000 members across the UK.
CAMRA will be 50 years old in 2021 and is certainly a big contributing factor to the vast selection of beer, cider, and perry we see today. The Pub trade remains challenging and CAMRA lobbies government and Campaigns on all aspects of the Pub well fair. CAMRA is a volunteer organisation striving for thriving pubs with good quality beer, cider, and perry. We also encourage people to drink beer and go to pubs with our many CAMRA beer festivals, pub finders, and awards.
Our History
CAMRA started in 1971 and now approaching 200,000 members
Campaigning for pubs and quality of beer,cider and perry for 40+ years
The Campaign for the Revitalisation of Real Ale is formed in 1971. The first issues of What’s Brewing and Good Beer Guide and the first national beer festival all got going in the 1970s and CAMRA becomes a limited business in 1976. In the 1980s beer order reform forces the 6 big breweries to sell and free from tie over 11,000 pubs and the APPLE committee representing real cider and perry is formed. In the 1990s CAMRA helps found the European Beer Consumer Union and the first Great British Beer Festival(GBBF) was held. In the 2000s the government passes statuary code to regulate pub companies and planning protection for all pubs in England is secured. In 2018 CAMRA undertakes a revitalisation project to decide its future and today is approaching 200,000 members.
Volunteers Organisation
A hierachical structure of 190,000+ Volunteers
CAMRA consists of a hierachical organisational structure of Volunteers covering the UK
CAMRA consists of a hierarchical structure of over 191,000+ Volunteers covering the whole of the UK. CAMRA is led by a board of directors known as it’s National Executive (NE). The NE sets our direction and strategy and is directly elected by our membership at our annual Members’ Weekend, AGM & Conference. The UK is split up into 16 regions with a regional director and regional committee, who manage the CAMRA branches contained in their area. 210 CAMRA branches consist of a committee and CAMRA members. There are also additional committees and working groups which specialise in specific areas.
CAMRA Staff
A dedicated team supporting volunteers
CAMRA volunteers are supported by a dedicated staff based in the office in St Albans
The CAMRA Staff roles are:
Senior Staff Team: Responsible for the staff team divisions (Campaigns & Communications, Commercial and Support) and reporting directly to the National Executive
Communications & Campaigns: Taking care of Communications, Campaigns and Education & Training teams
Commercial Division: Made up of both the Trading & Events Marketing teams and the Membership team
Support Division: This division is responsible for our financial strategy, budgets and business plans and ensuring smooth support across IT, Logistics, Volunteer Services and H&S.
Pub Campaigning
Campaigning for Pubs
CAMRA Volunteers campaigning for pubs is at the core of what we do
CAMRA Volunteers campaigning against a possible pub closure, encouraging Councils to adopt pub friendly planning policies, or lobbying the Government to take action on business rates. Pubs are a force for good in society, providing social and wellbeing benefits for people across the UK. CAMRA is proud to be leading the fight to ensure that our pubs stay open and thrive.
CAMRA Learning
Find out everything beer, cider and perry with CAMRA Learning
CAMRA offers many opportunities to learn more about Beer, Cider and Perry
CAMRA offers you high quality, informative content and learning workshops to support your lifelong learning about beer, cider and perry. Find out what’s going on with CAMRA beer magazine, what’s Brewing and our local branch magazine Pint Taken. There are many branch events, training courses, beer judging training and more to build your knowledge.
CAMRA Membership
CAMRA membership is your route into the world of real ale and protecting the great British pub
CAMRA members enjoy exclusive benefits
CAMRA Membership has so much to offer you in so many different ways, each and every year. Support our vital campaigns to save pubs, clubs, your pint and more. Enjoy exclusive benefits including beer vouchers and discounted entry to real ale festivals. Each member receives a welcome pack to help you make the most of your membership. Receive Award-winning BEER magazine and What’s Brewing newspaper. Why not get involved with a vast number of activities, events and socials at your local Worcester CAMRA branch
Good Beer Guide
Good Beer Guide (GBG) is the beer lover’s bible
The Good Beer Guide (GBG) features the very best pubs from across the country
The Good Beer Guide (GBG) is revised and updated every year and features the very best pubs across the United Kingdom that serve real ale. It is completely independent, with listings based entirely on evaluation by our local volunteers. The unique breweries section lists every brewery – micro, regional and national – that produces real ale in the UK. Tasting notes for the beers, compiled by CAMRA-trained tasting teams, are also included. This is the complete book for beer lovers and for anyone wanting to experience the UK’s finest pubs.
Pub of the Year (POTY)
POTY is the best all round pub serving real ale
POTY is the best all round pub serving real ale and is award at branch, regional and national levels
POTY is the best all-round pub serving real ale and is award at a branch, regional and national levels. Worcester CAMRA selects branch Pub of the Year using a defined process using beer scoring, survey trips, word of mouth and a knock-out rounds evening. The winner of branch POTY goes up to the regional POTY round, then the winner of regional POTY goes up to national POTY consideration. CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year is our annual competition to find the very best cask ale pub in the UK. Comprehensive judging criteria cover the quality of the beer, style, service, community focus and alignment with CAMRA principles are used to nominate Pub of the Year.
CAMRA Events
Every year over 180 local beer festivals takes place across the country
Over 180 local beer festivals take place every year
Every year over 180 local beer festivals take place across the country, organised and delivered by dedicated volunteers from CAMRA branches. There are 2 yearly national beer festivals: Great British Beer Festival and the Great British Beer Festival Winter. Every April the Members’ Weekend, AGM & Conference is held at different locations across the country.
Rate Beer
Rating Beer is fun and helps CAMRA branches in selecting pubs for the Good Beer Guide and monitor beer quality
The National Beer Scoring System (NBSS) is incorporated into the WhatPub website offers CAMRA Members the ability to rate their beers
The National Beer Scoring System (NBSS) is incorporated into the WhatPub website. The NBSS is a 0-5 (0 = No cask ale available) point scale for judging beer quality in pubs. It is easy to use and helps CAMRA branches select pubs for the Good Beer Guide and monitor beer quality. Worcester CAMRA uses NBSS data for Worcester CAMRA beer champion league table which can get very competitive. Rating Beer is fun and gives you a full list of the pubs you have visited.
CAMRA Membership Benefits
CAMRA membership provides value for money, with a wide range of membership benefits and exclusive discounts.
CAMRA Publications
Award-winning BEER magazine and What’s Brewing newspaper
The BEER magazine is CAMRA’s award-winning quarterly magazine and What’s Brewing newspaper is the monthly newspaper for CAMRA members. Both exclusively available to CAMRA members.
Campaigning
Campaign for great beer,cider and perry
As a member of CAMRA, you help to promote and protect beer, by actively supporting Britain’s pubs and breweries to get a better deal for beer drinkers. In fact, that’s why CAMRA is one of the most successful consumer rights organisations in Europe.
Beer Festivals
Enjoy free/discounted entry to over 180 CAMRA festivals
CAMRA organises hundreds of events for beer and cider lovers. Why not use the calendar below to find your next great event? Wherever you decide to go, you can be sure that there’ll be a fantastic range of beer, cider and perry at all of them.
Discount Scheme
Discounts on real ale in over 3,500 pubs
The Real Ale Discount Scheme offers CAMRA members discounts in thousands of pubs across the UK. CAMRA members can receive discounts from 20p off a pint to a whopping 10% discount across selected products on the production of a valid membership card.
CAMRA Books Discount
Discounts on all of the books we produce including CAMRA’s annual Good Beer Guide
Discounts on all of the books we produce including CAMRA’s annual Good Beer Guide
WhatPub
CAMRA’s online pub guide lists over 36,000 real ale pubs
WhatPub is the only comprehensive guide to pubs in Britain – every pub is listed, even if it doesn’t sell real ale. Find out how you can get the most out of this essential pub guide.
CAMRA Real Ale, Cider and Perry Vouchers
£30 (60 x 50p) worth of CAMRA Real Ale, Cider and Perry Vouchers
The CAMRA Voucher scheme is a member benefit that entitles members to £30, sixty vouchers of fifty pence, off a pint of Real Ale, Cider or Perry. It complements the existing Real Ale Discount Scheme and is a bigger and better voucher scheme for our members. As of 1 July 2019, we are replacing Wetherspoon vouchers with a new CAMRA owned and operated voucher scheme.
Partner Benefits
A wide range of special partner discounts are available to all CAMRA members
A wide range of special partner discounts is available to all CAMRA members. All offers are regularly reviewed and offer added and updated.
Get Involved
Get involved and make new friends
As a CAMRA member, you automatically join the CAMRA branch in your local area. Make new friends, and get actively involved as a beer scorer (for Good Beer Guide selection), committee member or festival volunteer, enjoy a variety of social events, or just learn more through your local branch and members.
Investment Club
Exclusively club for members investing in breweries since 1989
We started investing in breweries in 1989 and now have over 3,000 members in the Club. At the end of April 2019, the fund value was just under £23m with a unit value of £5.59.
Privilege Club
Join the GBG Privilege Club to be the first to access the new guide every year
Since the first edition in 1972, the Good Beer Guide has been spearheaded by CAMRA members across the UK
Have your say
Each and every member has a say in the future direction of CAMRA
As a volunteer-led organisation, each and every member has a say in the future direction of CAMRA.
Join our annual Members’ Weekend, AGM and Conference to have your say on the issues that matter to you, and influence CAMRA policy.
Worcester camra
Activites
Every CAMRA branch has a range of activities it is involved in and Worcester CAMRA is no exception. We rate pubs and beer, campaign, have many trips, events and social get-togethers and lay on one of the biggest beer festivals.
We welcome all new members to come along to one of our meetings, social get-togethers or events and enjoy the fun and sociability of our fine Worcester CAMRA members.
CAMRA Jargon
When you first start talking to some of the CAMRA regulars you can quickly get confused. Of course, you don’t want to offend or appear simple, so you politely nod your head and pretend you understand. This is what happened to me.
Like many organisations, CAMRA has developed its own set of words and acronyms to describe various CAMRA activities. Don’t be confused and bust the jargon.
Join CAMRA today
CAMRA Membership extends your experience of everything pubs and beer with social people and lots of fun. Also, enjoy the wide range of membership benefits and exclusive discounts just for you.