Campaign for Real Ale – CAMRA

Campaigning for real ale, pubs & drinkers’ rights since 1971.

CAMRA’s strapline pretty much says it all. It was set up in the early seventies to counter the industrialisation of brewing and the move away from traditional “live” ales to sterile, long-lasting, uniform beers.

CAMRA was formed in March 1971 by four men from the north-west who were disillusioned by the domination of the UK beer market by a handful of companies pushing products of low flavour and overall quality onto the consumer.

Many brewers during the late 1960s and early 1970s had made the decision to move away from producing traditional, flavoursome beers which continued to ferment in the cask from which they were served, and such a move was opposed by Michael Hardman, Graham Lees, Jim Makin and Bill Mellor, all of whom thought it was about time British beer drinkers were given better variety and choice at the bar…

CAMRA supports well-run pubs as the centres of community life – whether in rural or urban areas – and believe their continued existence play a critical social role in UK culture. CAMRA also supports the pub as the one place in which to consume real ale (also known as cask-conditioned beer, or cask ale) and to try one of over 5,500 different styles now produced across the UK.

The words above are taken from the “What is CAMRA?” Internet page. Please go to the CAMRA website and read all about the organisation and maybe become a member, joining over 175,000 like minded people.

CAMRA is also a huge supporter of nominating pubs as Assets of Community Value. We asked for their help but they reckoned we had already done a good enough job. Time will tell…