Sub Branch Pub and Brewery Presentations

1 July 2023

Tunbridge Wells Pub Tour

A total of 33 CAMRA members from both South East and North East Sussex Branches as well as a number from other branches met up at midday at the Bedford by the Central station as the pub opened. The long orderly queue which formed at the bar keeping the then sole server busy was an impressive and memorable sight. Once all were settled with drinks, Howard, Branch Contact and Social Media Coordinator, outlined the programme for the day. Thus it was the group visited the Grove Tavern, followed by the Pantiles Tap, where we were delighted to find in good form, proprietor Geoff, once head steward in the multiple award winning Albatross Club in Bexhill, who had set it off on its successful path before leaving for Tunbridge Wells. After that it was on to the Sussex from where, following branch tradition on these occasions, the group split into different factions. Many chose to remain in the Pantiles area, even returning to the previously visited pubs, while a small group, who had already slipped into the Compasses, chose to make for Mount Edgcumbe up the hill and then on to the Opera House. A successful day ended as the various factions made for home.

19 April 2022

Cider Pub of the Year 2022 Winner is the King’s Head, East Hoathly. The picture shows Sub-branch Chairman, Steve Obey with Landlord and Landlady, Bob & Tracey.

19 April 2022

Pub of the Year 2022 Winner is the Hare & Hounds, Framfield. This picture shows Sub-branch Chairman, Steve Obey with Hare & Hounds Landlady, Lorraine

9 April 2022

Pig & Porter Brewery at High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells, won the Beer of the Festival (Sussex Exemption) at the October 2019 Eastbourne Beer Festival. It had been planned to make the award at the next open day the brewery held, but this was postponed due to the pandemic. The next opportunity came up in April this year, but as it clashed with the National Members’ Weekend in Eastbourne, the award was made by Richard Saunders, one of the North East Sussex members attending the open day. Our picture shows brewery staff with the certificate.

1 February 2019

Presentation by chairman Steve Obey (right) on behalf of the North East Sussex Sub Branch to Dave Quinney landlord of The Cooper's Arms, Crowborough, in recognition of the achievement of making it's fifteenth consecutive appearance in the Good Beer Guide.

29 September 2018

The date chosen for the brewery visit coincided with Dark Star’s Hopfest, a sort of mini beer festival featuring a range of the brewery’s cask and keg beers. The upside of this was that a larger range of beers than usual was on offer, including several which aren’t often available. On a warm, sunny morning, five members of the NE Sussex Sub-branch joined 16 members from the coast, Polegate and Hailsham on the coach at Uckfield railway station. After a very pleasant journey of about an hour, we arrived at the brewery in Partridge Green just before 11.30am. The brewery is housed in a large unit on a modern trading estate with a large yard outside. Admittance to the event was free to those on the CAMRA visit although we still got the free pint that was included in the regular entrance fee. Entertainment was provided by a succession of rather loud bands playing inside the brewery although it was possible to moderate the volume by drinking and chatting outside in the sunshine. There was also a burger bar and soft drinks were available. In between the music, Peter Adams, Chairman of SE Sussex, presented James Cuthbertson, Managing Director of Dark Star, with the award for Sussex Branch Beer of the Year for one of their winter seasonal beers, Crème Brûlée. All too soon, the three hours allotted to our stay came to an end and it was time to return home. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’d like to thank Peter and all those responsible for a great day out, not forgetting our coach driver, John Holbrook, who somehow kept to time in spite of the heavy Saturday traffic.

      

      

28 April 2018

Members from North East Sussex sub-branch, South East Sussex, Western Sussex and Arun & Adur branches gathered at The Gun Brewery on Saturday 28th April. Certificates were presented to the brewery owners Toby and Mark seen below together with their Head Brewer, Pete, by Peter Adams, South East Sussex branch Chairman and Steve Obey, BLO (Brewery Liason Officer) for the Brewery. The Gun Brewery’s Zamzama IPA was voted Champion for the South East Sussex Beer of the Year 2017 and their Imperial Whisky Stout was awarded Sussex Micro Beer of the Festival at the 2017 Eastbourne Beer Festival.

19 April 2018

The Kings Head at East Hoathly was voted sub branch Cider Pub of the Year. The presentation was made on the evening of 19 April and photos show the landlord and landlady, Robert and Tracie, with the sub branch chairman, John Packer and sub branch members.

      

The Kings Head at Rotherfield was similarly voted sub branch Pub of the Year. That presentation was made the same evening and the photos also show John Packer, sub branch members and the landlady and landlord, Antonia and Chris Harvey.