News
Here is the latest news about the branch and pubs & breweries in the branch area.
- Details of Dudley Winter Ales Fayre
Thursday 10 October 2024
Tickets are now on sale for the Dudley Winter Ales Fayre. Purchase information and details on the fayre can be seen on our dedicated page (found via the website menu).
- Branch meeting minutes
Sunday 6 October 2024
You may have noticed that the branch meeting minutes are no longer showing on the left menu. We've rightly been reminded that these should only be visible to members and to see them you'll need to log in view this page: Branch meeting minutes.
So, they've not gone. They're just in the right room now.
- A little ditty on beer scoring
Tuesday 1 October 2024
You visit your local often to enjoy the ambience , companionship and beer
But is it in this year's Good Beer Guide?
"Of course not!" you sneer.
So if you want to change this, when you visit and sample the beer
Don't just forget it. Get on line and go right here...As a CAMRA member
it's where you use your voice.
Tell us what's good or bad,
Go on! make YOUR choice.
Play your part & mark the beer,
And who knows this time next year ......?
- Good Beer Guide 2025
Friday 27 September 2024
The 2025 Good Beer Guide has now been published. It features many pubs in the Dudley and South Staffordshire branch area. The allocation for the branch was reduced this year and the guide features 22 in our area of the Black Country and three in South Staffordshire.
They are: Amblecote, Red Lion; Blackheath, Britannia, Cyder & Cobb and Old Bush Revived; Brierley Hill, Rose & Crown and Vine; Dudley, Malt Shovel; Enville, Cat Inn; Kinver, Cross Inn; Kingswinford, Bridge Inn, Ale Hub and Cottage; Lower Gornal, Fountain Inn; Old Hill, Wheelie Thirsty; Rowley Regis, Britannia;Sedgley, Beacon Hotel and White Lion; Tipton, Fountain and Rising Sun; Upper Gornal, Britannia and Jolly Crispin; Wombourne, Old Bush and Wordsley, Bird in Hand, New Inn and Queen's Head.
Congratulations to all of them. The branch will be looking at beer scores for all out pubs before starting the process for the 2026 guide.
All pubs offering real ale in our area will be considered and some that have dropped out this year due to changes in licensees will have the opportunity to get back in.
- Sedgley Charity Beer Festival
Wednesday 25 September 2024
Sedgley Charity Beer Festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024.
The annual real ale event is being held in First Sedgley Scout Group's Jubilee Hall headquarters at Ladies Walk. Doors open at 5pm on Friday, September 27, with 36 beers featured this year.
The two-day festival, run by volunteers from the scout group, has raised more than £90,000 for the group and good causes over the years.
Festival committee chairman and group chairman David Baugh said: "We expect up to 1,500 people to attend over the course of the two days.
"We have more than 100 volunteers involved this year.
"We started setting up on Monday – it is a real labour of love to put it on each year."
Tickets are on sale on the gate at £15, which includes a festival glass and £10 of drinks tokens.
The festival also offers 14 ciders and a gin bar featuring 10 gins and four rums. There will also be a barbecue operating. It runs until 11pm each day and opens at 12 noon on Saturday.
There will be a number of live bands performing including Sedgley Ukulele Strummers on the Saturday afternoon, Damn The Weather, Venus Rising and Woodsetton Wonderers.
Gold sponsors are N D Walters Carpets and Flooring in Dudley Road, Sedgley.
Charities being helped this year include the BBC Children in Need appeal and the Beacon Centre for the Blind in Sedgley.
- Sedgley pub reopening
Sunday 15 September 2024
A Sedgley pub is to offer real ale when it re-opens as an Indian bar and grill. The Crown in High Street has been closed since August 31.
It was sold by Marston's to Walsall-based Gurdeep Singh. The pub is expected to open as The Crown Bar and Restaurant on September 21.
It will then be offering two real ales in the bar. Ginni Singh from Willenhall will be running it. He previously ran The Tamworth Arms in Tamworth, which he sold in November.
- Ashwood Inn, Wordsley
Monday 9 September 2024
The Ashwood Inn at Sandringham Place, Wordsley, has re-opened after a £362,000 refurbishment.
The pub, under the Proper Pubs chain, has undergone a complete transformation and now hosts a brand new function room, accommodating up to 100 people, as well as new flooring, furniture, fixtures and fittings throughout. It also has a renovated bar area. Plans are afoot for the pub to introduce real ales soon.
Our best wishes and good luck to Sandra and Steve Pemblington who will be running it.
(Our thanks to the Express & Star for the article.)
- Birmingham social
Tuesday 20 August 2024
We've got a social planned for this Saturday. Read through the diary page for more information.
- This Wednesday
Monday 5 August 2024
It's a double delight this forthcoming Wednesday. At 7pm we'll be at The White Lion for our next Dudley Winter Ales Fayre organisation meeting.
Before that, we're at The Beacon Hotel for 6pm to present them with the Branch Pub Of The Year.
We hope you can join us for both of either important sessions.
- Dudley Winter Ales Fayre
Thursday 25 July 2024
Dudley Winter Ales Fayre 2024
Dudley & South Staffordshire CAMRA are pleased to confirm that Dudley Winter Ales Fayre will be taking place at Dudley’s Town Hall from Thursday 28 to Saturday 30 November.
The logo for DWAF reflects some distinctive milestones. Firstly, the creation of Dudley Metropolitan Borough from 50 years ago, where the “Dudley Bug” featuring on the original coat of arms. We also wanted to commemorate Sarah Hughes’ Snowflake, the winner of the Champion Winter Beer Of Britain 2024.
72 beers and 20 ciders will be on sale, some of which will be available on Friday and Saturday to minimise selling out the favourites too early.
Keep an eye out on social media and our website for the latest information.
- Branch meeting minutes
Thursday 18 July 2024
The latest copy of the Branch meeting minutes - June 2024 can now be downloaded.
- The Bell is reopening
Tuesday 9 July 2024
You'll be pleased to hear that a Brierley Hill canalside pub is reopening on July 18 at 12 noon following a six-figure refurbishment.
The Bell in Delph Road has been closed for four years and is reopening as The Bell on the Delph after being bought by Simon Glear, of Radius Total Building Solutions, Wolverhampton, in May last year.
The pub has been converted from two rooms to one room and a darts area has been created. The pub is at the bottom of the Delph Locks on the Dudley No 1 Canal.
It will be offering four real ales on hand pump and two ciders and will also offer cobs and pies.
The pub, which will open seven days a week, has a car park to the side and a beer garden to the rear. Tracy Rodgers has been appointed to run the pub for the newly formed SSG Inns.
- Wolverhampton Summer Festival Of Beer
Friday 5 July 2024
Volunteers from the Campaign for Real Ale are needed to help with setting up and running Wolverhampton CAMRA's festival in Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, from July 25 to 27.
CAMRA members who would like to help during the build up to the festival or in filling roles in manning the bars or vital behind the scenes work can contact staffing officer Amanda Hignett at moc.liamg@95badnam
Advance tickets for the festival are available at https://tckty.camra.org.uk/e/262/wolverhampton-summer-festival-of-beer-cider-2024
CAMRA members showing valid membership card at check-in will receive a free half pint token.
- *SORTED* Do you have a "giraffe" glass from 1999?
Thursday 27 June 2024
We've had a query in on whether anyone has the giraffe festive glass from 1999:
...My late husband was an avid beer festival attender and collected many of the commemorative glasses at both the Dudley summer and winter festivals over a number of years.
Sadly he passed away in 2016 but my son (who was only 21 at the time) wanted to keep a number of the glasses he had collected. His favorite was the 1999 pint glass which had a giraffe on one side. Unfortunately he has just moved house and the glass was broken this weekend leaving him really upset. It was a cherished memory from his dad.
I wondered if you had any idea where I might be able to get another one. Any help you can offer would be really appreciated.
Can you help? If you can, drop us a line and we'll put you in touch.
Someone has kindly offered to give theirs. Thank you.
- 2024-2025 committee
Tuesday 25 June 2024
Whilst we've not filled all the roles in last night's AGM, it's good news that the critical executive positions have been. John Corser will be leading Dudley & South Staffordshire CAMRA for another year.
- Our annual general meeting
Wednesday 19 June 2024
This forthcoming Monday we have our Annual General Meeting at the Rose & Crown, Bank Street, Brierley Hill.
Naturally it's an important meeting for us as it helps to give the branch its direction and leadership for the next year. Your voice is integral.
The pub is also kindly putting on food for us. So drop us a line at ku.gro.armac.yeldud@yraterces, if you're planning to attend (to avoid any food waste).