Welcome to your latest Branch Update. The nights are getting lighter and there’s a distinct feeling that Spring might be on the way. It’s that time of year when a beer drinker’s thoughts might be turning to something a little lighter after the dark comforts of stout and winter ale during the colder months.
Awards
On the subject of seasons, not only is the entertainment industry awash with award ceremonies, but Bolton CAMRA is also in the middle of its own awards season. Our first award of 2025 goes to the House Without a Name in Harwood which has been voted Winter Pub of the Season. Congratulations to Jon and the team at the ‘No Name’. We will be presenting them with their certificate at 7p.m. this Wednesday 26 February.
It is also time to vote for three more awards: The Pub of the Year, the Cider Pub of the Year and the Club of the Year. You can vote online on the members’ page of the branch website here. You will need your membership details to log on. Online voting closes at midnight on 4 March 2025. Alternatively, you can vote in person at the March branch meeting which will be held at the Spinning Mule, Nelson Square, Bolton at 8 p.m. on Thursday 6 March 2025.
Your Pub Needs You
Those of you who read the Daily Mirror may be aware of this campaign calling on the Government to take measures to stop the closure of so many of the country’s pubs. The paper ran a series of articles highlighting areas of the country where many pubs have closed and are boarded up but also some success stories where pubs are managing to cling on in the face of adversity or have been brought back from the dead and are now trading succesfully. One of these is CAMRA’s current national Pub of the Year the Bailey Head in Oswestry, Shropshire. CAMRA fully supports the Mirror’s campaign and we hope the publicity will put pressure on the government to help the struggling hospitality sector.
Late Night Levy
I mentioned in an earlier update that the Council had voted to bring in a Late-Night Levy covering bars and takeaways licensed to open between 3 and 6 a.m. in Bolton town centre. The purpose of the levy is to contribute to the costs of policing in the early hours of the morning. A number of other councils have tried this but found it didn’t bring in the amount of money they hoped. Ahead of the levy coming into force this month we have seen a slew of applications from bars seeking to amend their licensed hours to just before 3 a.m. when the charge takes effect. How this will affect the Council’s income remains to be seen, but it clearly won’t be as much as they anticipated, and, for those drinkers who like to stay out until the cows come home, there may be less choice of places to go.
Getting Involved
You will have received an email from Ralph Warrington, CAMRA’s regional Director for the North West looking for someone to take on the role of Area Organiser for Greater Manchester. If you are interested in this role, please email Ralph at rd.northwest@camra.org.uk
There is also a vacancy for a Brewery Liaison Officer for Bank Top Brewery, Bolton’s award winning and probably best known independent brewery. As the name suggests, the BLO provides the link between CAMRA and the brewery making sure that all our information is up to date. Full details of the role can be found here. Again, you’ll need your membership details to log on. If you’re interested in this position, please drop me a line at chair@bolton.camra.org.uk
We’re also looking for members to get involved by sharing information with other members on our branch website. For example, what’s happening with your local pubs? Have you been on a pub crawl or had an excellent pub experience? Have you seen a great ale-related website that you think we should link to? If you’re a publican, let us know what beers you are currently serving and if you are hosting any ale-related events. Are you organising a beer festival? If there is anything at all that you have come across that will be of interest to visitors to the site, tell us about it by emailing editor@bolton.camra.org.uk
And on that note, a quick shout out to our neighbouring branch, Wigan, who are holding their beer festival this weekend at Robin Park, Wigan. Details here.
Finally, if your idea of getting involved is simply drinking quality beer with like-minded people, why not come along to one of our branch socials. They take place usually once a month, sometimes more often, taking in Bolton and further afield. Details can be found on the Social Events page of the branch website. The next social is a trip to Sheffield on 7 March.
Cheers,
John Mitchell – Chair