News
- Summer edition of Pints West out now
Thursday 12 June 2025
Multi award winning magazine now out and will soon be appearing in branch pubs
Note that there have been some changes to our social events since Pints West went to press, notably that the crawl of Bristol pubs will now be on Sat 28th Jun (not Sat 14 as shown in Pints West) and that we are joining Bristol branch during their Bath walk on Thur 19th Jun (rather than visiting The Marlborough Tavern and St James Wine Vaults). Apologies for any confusion - latest Branch Diary here https://bathandborders.camra.org.uk/diary
.More detail here Pints West.
- Change of venue 22 April social
Friday 18 April 2025
Venue is now the Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon.
- Pints West wins CAMRA Magazine of the Year 2025
Saturday 12 April 2025
Well Steve Plumridge has done it again ! winning CAMRA Magazine of the Year at Annual Members weekend in Torquay for Pints West . As it says on the cover "Multi-award-winning magazine of The Bristol & District and Bath & Borders branches of CAMRA" Never in doubt !!
- Britannia Inn share offer open
Saturday 5 April 2025
The share offer to raise funds to buy, refurbish and reopen The Britannia Inn on Bath Road, Wells, is now open (from Saturday, 5 April).
The Britannia Inn – or ‘the Brit’ as it was fondly known – closed in June 2021 when landlords Rob and Karen Rouse retired after 35 years. It has been empty ever since, and is currently for sale with the Caldecotte Group for £300,000.
The East Wells Community Benefit Society (CBS) was set up last year with the aim of buying the pub and re-establishing it at the heart of the local community. The community share offer is seeking to raise about £450,000 to pay for the purchase, and the repair and refurbishment work required. Applications for community shares in the East Wells CBS can be made online at www.savethebritanniainnwells.org .
Shares are priced at £1 each, with a minimum investment of £50, and a maximum of £25,000. The share offer is due to close on May 30, though if it fails to reach the initial target the East Wells CBS may decide to extend the offer for a further month. The Society’s Business Plan and Share Offer Prospectus are available to read at www.savethebritanniainnwells.org
. - Branch Pub of the Year announced
Saturday 22 March 2025
The Bath & Borders City and OVERALL Pub of the Year 2025 is The Royal Oak, Lower Bristol Rd, Bath. The Royal Oak brewpub typically stocks eight real ales has been in every edition of the Good Beer Guide since 2007. Certificate presentation will be on 15 Apr coinciding with one of their regular Meet the Brewer events.
.The Rural/Borders Pub of the Year 2025 is Sheep & Penguin, Wells.
.(Photo courtesy of Sheep & Penguin)
The Sheep & Penguin (previously The Mermaid) typically stocks four real ales and opened in mid 2023 after a thorough restoration winning a CAMRA Pub Design award in 2024. Certificate presentation to be arranged.
- Spring edition of Pints West out now
Thursday 13 March 2025
Multi award winning magazine now out and will soon be appearing in branch pubs
- BANES Pubs and Breweries able to apply for Low Carbon Business Support grant
Monday 17 February 2025
We have become aware of the 2025 Low Carbon Business Support scheme operated by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority – that seems to cover pubs and breweries in BANES. We understand that pubs/breweries have made use of earlier schemes to install solar panels, LED lighting, process heat recovery, CO2 recovery, cooking equipment and various other projects.
It seems that the 2025 application process went live on 3 Feb, £2M of funding available on a first come first served basis and grants cover up to £15k and up to 60% of eligible capital costs of purchase and installation – seems the business needs to pay for the project and then claim the subsidy on completion.
Typically the initial contact would be through a Carbon Survey where they provide free advice on ways to reduce emissions and support available to take action. Businesses can then apply for Green Business Grant to action some of these suggestions. Any grant project must be able to be completed by March 2026.
Direct contact details: lowcarbonbusiness@westofengland-ca.gov.uk and 0117 332 1520 if people want to get in touch directly.
Note that Bath & Borders CAMRA aren’t explicitly endorsing this scheme and arent involved in the process – we are merely highlighting the scheme.
- Chapter One - Application to Convert Pub
Monday 20 January 2025
London Road's Last Pub – A planning application threatens to permanently close Chapter One (formerly Britannia, Piccadilly Alehouse, The Hive). Losing Chapter One would leave the entire length of London Road and the surrounding residential area without a single traditional pub. A pub is a vital community amenity and we believe that under a good landlord and a fair and manageable rent, this pub can be operated as a successful business once more.
Please consider objecting to this planning application and help us save Chapter One. https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/webforms/planning/details.html?refval=24%2F04619%2FFUL#details_Section
If you wish to comment please do so before 30 Jan 25
- Revised Social Calendar Jan 2025
Tuesday 14 January 2025
There are some errors in the Bath & Borders branch diary on Winter edition of Pints West (page 46) for example the Meet the Brewer event at the Royal Oak (Bath) is 21st Jan not 14th Jan - latest dates here https://bathandborders.camra.org.uk/diary