Welcome to the Christmas update from Bolton CAMRA
First let me wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas.
Hopefully this year is a return to a more ‘normal’ festive season and we can all enjoy a trip down to the local pub. It’s surely the best time of year to enjoy a fresh pint pulled straight from the cask.
The past few years have been especially difficult ones for our pubs and independent breweries. An alarming number of breweries have announced their closure in the last few months, squeezed by the high cost of energy and raw materials and uncertain of the future. Over Christmas try to buy beers from these local independent brewers where you can. Bolton has some of the best breweries in the country and we should be proud to support them.
Good Beer Guide 2024
At the next Branch Meeting on 5th January we will be presenting the longlist of nominations for the Good Beer Guide 2024 (yes already!). Members will be able to use this list either at or before the Branch Meeting on 2nd February to vote for the final thirteen entries allocated to the Branch.
The longlist of nominations is based entirely on beer scores provided by members throughout the last year. Any member can beer score using whatpub.com. The nominations list comprises those pubs which have a mean beer score above that for all pubs in the Branch area, and have been visited by at least 5 different scorers.
There are around 22 pubs or clubs currently meeting the criteria for nomination. But there’s still time to add pubs and no better time than over Christmas for you to pay a visit to your local and score beers. There are a number of Branch pubs which have good scores but require more members to visit for them to qualify. These include:
The Stork Tavern on Halliwell Road, The Horseshoe at Ringley Bridge, ‘Tails & Ale in Horwich, One for the Road on Bolton Market and Bob’s Smithy.
Meetings
Thursday 5th January 2023 – Bolton Branch Meeting at Barristers, Bolton Town Centre at 7.30pm. Doors open from 7.00. We will be agreeing the shortlist for Branch Cider Pub of the Year and asking for judges to visit the shortlisted pubs.
Saturday 14th January 2023 – Greater Manchester Regional Meeting 1pm at Bolton Ukrainian Club at 99 Castle St, BL2 1JP
Thursday 2nd February 2023 – Bolton Branch Meeting at The Millstone, Bolton Town Centre at 8.00pm. This is the last chance to vote for Branch entries to the Good Beer Guide 2024. We will also be finalising the shortlist for Pub of the Year and Club of the Year and looking for judges to visit the shortlisted venues.
Branch Socials
Thursday 29th December – Yuletide trip to Chorley. Meet at 1.00 pm at the Shepherds Hall Ale House next to the bus station in Chorley town centre. All welcome to come along. More information here .
Vote for Winter Pub of the Season
Final reminder to cast a vote for our Winter Pub of the Season 2022/23. One member, one vote either online before midnight on 4th January, or at the Branch meeting on 5th January
Five pubs have been nominated. Please try to visit as many as possible before voting.
Bank Top Brewery House, Horwich
Best wishes for a Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year
Graham Walsh
Bolton CAMRA Branch