News
- West Kent CAMRA Pub of the Year 2024 - Presentations
Sunday 28 April 2024
We announced the results of our Pub of the Year 2024 competition earlier and we have been out and about presenting the Certificates.
We started with the West Kent CAMRA Pub of the Year, the Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, which we visited on 20 March 2024. Local member and Nelson regular, Simon Scott did the honours in presenting the award to Matthew Rudd the owner.
On the same evening we visited Fuggles Beer Cafe also in Tonbridge to present them with their Runners Up Certificate. Committee member and Fuggles regular, Keith Ennis, made the presentation to Julian who is one of the duty managers.
We have also awarded town pub awards to the two towns that were not winners. For Sevenoaks the award was to the Anchor and we visited on 4 April 2024. Local member, Mike Willsher, presented the award to “Barrio the Barman”, aka Barry Dennis, the long standing publican of the Anchor.
We had our AGM on 14 April 2024 in Tunbridge Wells at the Opera House. We then went to Fuggles Beer Cafe to present them with their Tunbridge Wells Pub of the Year. Our newly elected vice chair, Will Longmate did the honours presenting the certificate to Alex Greig, Fuggles owner and beer guy.
The final award is the Village Pub of the Year which goes to the Halfway House at Brenchley. We will be visiting them on 25 May 2024 to join in their Beer Festival and make the presentation.
- Forthcoming Events
Thursday 11 April 2024
Cellar Head Brewery holds brewery tours on the first Saturday of each month starting at 12pm with tasters and 10% off at the brewery shop (not the bar). Tap Room will be open to continue drinking. Full details here.
Fuggles Beer Café, BOTH PUBS have frequent events so please check here and put them in your diary: Full details here.
Nevill Crest & Gun, Eridge – Pub walk, first Saturday each month. Meet at the pub at 9:30 for coffee and bacon roll (on the house) and depart at 10:00 for a 6km circular walk. Back about midday for a well-earned pint and lunch if you want.
Westerham Brewery Tours & Tasting, weekly on Saturday mornings at 11.30am book here:
18th - 21st April - Fuggles Beer Café, TUNBRIDGE WELLS - Outer Range (French Alps) Brewery UK Launch. More details here.
20th April – Pig & Porter Brewery, TW – Open Day, beer & pizza, 12-6pm. More details here.
20th April – London CAMRA Branches - One Day Cider Festival. More details here.
24th – 27th April - Fuggles Beer Café, TUNBRIDGE WELLS – Duration Brewery’s Great Farmhouse Exploration event to showcase a selection of farmhouse beer styles from England, USA, France, Belgium, Italy and Germany. More details here.
26th – 28th April – CAMRA Members’ Weekend, AGM & Conference, Dundee.. Full details here.
27th April – Generation Craft, Picturehouse Ashford – Craft Beer Festival. More details here.
27th April – Northdown Brewery, Margate – Brewery Tour. More details here.
27th – 28th April – The Chequers Inn, Laddingford – Real Ale Festival. More details here.
May – CAMRA Cider & Perry Month details here, also CAMRA Mild Month. More details here.
3rd – 5th May – Iron Pier Brewery, Gravesend – Spring Beer Festival. More details here.
9th – 11th May – 17th Bexley Beer Festival, over 100 beers & ciders, souvenir glass, hot & cold food, free entry for CAMRA members. Celebrating the Dartfordians 100th birthday as well as Radio Caroline’s 60th anniversary. More details here.
18th May - Kent Regional Meeting at Ye Olde Chequers Inn, 122 High Street, Tonbridge TN9 1AS. Start time 12 noon.
24th - 26th May – Crabble Corn Mill, Dover – Beer & Cider Festival, £3 a pint, £1.50 a half, tickets and details here.
24th - 27th May – Westerham Brewery – 20th Anniversary Celebration Beer Festival. More details here.
24th - 27th May – Halfway House, Brenchley – Beer Festival. More details here.
26th May - One Inn the Wood, Petts Wood – Beer Festival at Petts Wood Memorial Hall. Details here.
14th - 15th June – 26th CAMRA South Downs Beer & Cider Festival, Lewes. More details here.
14th - 15th June – CAMRA Real Ale & Cider Festival at Kent & East Sussex Railway, Tenterden. More details here.
15th June – TW Sausage & Cider Festival in Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells 30+ ciders, craft beers, other drinks, 20+ sausage flavours, live music and various other entertainments. Full details here.
23rd - 26th June – CAMRA Cricket Tent in Canterbury - Canterbury Branch will be running the CAMRA Tent at the Kent v. Lancashire game. Entry restricted to CAMRA members and their guests. Gill and Gerry will be running the tent and any offers of assistance will be appreciated. More information here.
5th – 7th July – Spirit of Tenterden Festival – includes real ale & cider festival. 297 bus can get you there from TW or other travel options are available. Full details here.
12th – 13th July – Sevenoaks Beer on the Vine at the Vine Cricket Ground, run this year by Sevenoaks Round Table (i.e. not the Sevenoaks Lions Club this year), Fri 5-11pm, Sat 12-11pm. Expect cricket will be on as usual.
13th – 14th July – Wantsum Brewery, St. Nicholas at Wade, CT7 0PT – Summer Beer Festival showcasing their beers. Details here.
9th – 10th Aug – London Craft Beer Festival, Tobacco Dock, 300+ beers, food, etc. Details here.
August 2024 - GBBF will not be on in 2024 due to problems with the venue, but should return in 2025.
31st Aug – 1st Sept – Faversham Hop Festival. More details here.
20th – 22nd Sept – Canterbury’s Cooking (usually hosts the Kent Green Hop Beer Festival, details tbc).
28th Sept – Kent Oktoberfest, Maidstone. More details here.
17th – 20th Oct – Spa Valley Railway Real Ale & Cider Festival in association with West Kent CAMRA. Full details here.
8th – 9th Nov – Time & Tide Brewing – Rising Tide Craft Beer Festival in the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral, 50 beers, street food, music. Full details here. - West Kent CAMRA Pub of the Year 2024
Friday 1 March 2024
West Kent CAMRA would like to thank all branch members who voted in this years competition. After carefully counting the votes and verifying them we are pleased to announce the results.
Overall Winner West Kent CAMRA Pub of the Year 2024
The Nelson Arms, Tonbridge
West Kent CAMRA Pub of the Year 2024 Runner Up
Fuggles Beer Cafe, Tonbridge
West Kent CAMRA Tunbridge Wells Pub of the Year 2024
Fuggles Beer Cafe, Tunbridge Wells
West Kent CAMRA Sevenoaks Pub of the Year 2024
The Anchor, Sevenoaks
West Kent CAMRA Village Pub of the Year 2024
The Halfway House, Brenchley
West Kent CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year 2024
The Nelson Arms, Tonbridge
West Kent CAMRA Club of the Year 2024
The Constitutional Club, Tunbridge Wells
We will be out and about presenting certificates to the winners in the near future. Watch our socials page for details of when.
- CAMRA Cricket Tent 2024
Tuesday 20 February 2024
Gill Keay has just let me know that she and the Canterbury Branch will be running the CAMRA Cricket Tent at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury from Sunday 23rd June to Wednesday 26th June.
The ground will open at 10 am and cricket starts at 11 am. As normal, entry to the CAMRA Tent will be restricted to CAMRA members and their guests.
Gill is also looking for volunteers to help with various tasks in the tent. If you think you could help please let us have you details and we can forward them Gill. We can be contacted at ku.gro.armac.tnektsew@ngiapmac.