Branch Memebers meet Robert Halfon MP at the Strangers Bar House of Commons, to discuss how Goverment Action can help Pubs & Small Brewers (and enjoy a few beers) The Herts and Essex Branch is a small but active branch of Camra. Fighting for the future of pubs, choice and quality of Real Ale, while at the same time getting time to enjoy some of those real ales in the pubs. Meeting once a month for a formal branch meeting, we also have regular socials, pub crawls, brewery visits and even long weekends away. We welcome new members, no need to join first if you want to come along for taster. The Whats On button above will let know what we are planning in the near future. Look forward to meeting you. If you have an issue with a pub closure, brewery news of want information, please use the Contact Us button above. The branch runs two beer festivals, The Gibberd Garden (Old Harlow) mid June and the Bishops Stortford Festival at the End of July. The Branch Covers a Large and mainly Rural area on the Hertfordshire & Essex Borders, including the towns of Harlow, Epping, Ongar, Waltham Abbey & Bishops Stortford. Click below for full branch map. Branch Chairman Brendan Sothcott Enjoys a Beer with Marc Bartram, erstwhile brewer at Bartrams Brewery in Suffolk Branch Member Tony Davies Serves Happy Drinkers at the Gibberd Garden Beer Festival The Branch is also a part of the LocAle Scheme - promoting pubs selling beer from Local Breweries. This cuts down the 'Beer Miles' done by beer between breweries and the pub, supports local buisness & employment, as well as ensuring that beers sold in pubs are of a style suitable for this area. CAMRA is a National Campaign, covering all of country with over 150,000 members. Decribed by some as the most succesful Consumer Campaign ever. Why not consider joining HERE

NEWS Whitsun Bank Holiday Weekend - Pub Beer Festivals Two pub Beer Festivals we have been informed of. NOT CAMRA Events, so we cannot endorse them, but Good Pubs so worth looking at. Bricklayers Arms Bishops Stortford starts it's Festival Midday Friday 24th May, and runs all weekend. 16 Beers from Mighty Oak, Nethergate (Growler Brewery) & Colchester Brewery. Live band Friday eve. Queens Head Allens Green starts it's festival 5.30pm Friday 24th May and also runs all weekend. 23 beers from Banks & Taylor, Colchester, Cottage, Crouch Vale, Elgoods, Farmers, Idle Mauldons, Nelson, Nethergate, Old Cannon & Wolf breweries. 3rd to 6th May 2013 Green Tye Beer Festival Another non-CAMRA beer festival, but run by the Prince of Wales Green Tye. Now in it's 20th year, has gained a reputation as one of the first and best pub run festivals in the area, for beer, atmosphere and music. 19th to 21th April 2013 Pub Beer Festival at Queens Head Allens Green We have been advised that the Queens Head Allens Green is holding a mini beer festival 19-21 April. Not a CAMRA beer festival - info here is just for information, but the follwoing beers will be on sale:- London Fields Black Path Porter 4.2 : Hackney Hopster 4.2 : Love not War 4.2 : - Shoreditch Triangle 6.0 Mighty Oak Dragons Bane 4.0 : Maldon Gold 4.0 Adnams Ghost Ship 4.5 13th to 17th August 2013 The Great British Festival - London Olympia This year’s Great British Beer Festival will take place between 13th – 17th August at London Olympia. With over 800 real ales, ciders, perries and foreign beers to choose from we are sure there will be plenty of choice to suit everybody’s taste buds! It is not all about the beer though. There is also plenty of food, live music and pub games to enjoy. Tickets can be bought by calling 0844 412 4640 or If you are feeling lucky then visit www.gbbf.org.uk/competitions where there are plenty of great prizes to win. 29th March 2013 Half Moon, Bishops Stortford Announces Discounts to CAMRA Members The Half Moon is the latest pub to offer discounts to card carrying members, Charles Wells Bombardier & Caledonian Deuchars IPA have 15p off, while all other Real ales have 35p off. Valid CAMRA membership card must be shown to gain the discounts. The Half Moon is located at the North end of North Street, Bishops Stortford, handy for the Town Centre. Open all day every day. There are two bars, remember to check the beers available on the blackboards, in case the ale of your choice is in the other bar. 25th March 2013 Branch Pub of the Year Presentation to The Rising Sun at High Wych Monday 25 March saw Branch Chairman Brendan Sothcott present Garry, Sharon and Daughter Lauren the Branch Pub of the Year Award. The pub has been in every edition of the Good Beer Guide except the first, (CAMRA did not cover this area then). It has always only served real ale on gravity, and never used a hand-pump. Always has been a great Real Ale pub, which also serves as a valuable community asset. Long may it continue!! 20th March 2013 George Osborne Today proved that not all Politicans are evil all the time Today he killed the much hated Beer Duty Escaltor following a huge campaign by CAMRA, Breweries and the Pub Trade. Gives many struggling pubs a little bit of help & hope. 17th March 2013 - HERTS & ESSEX BORDERS BRANCH ANNOUNCE THIER PUB OF THE YEAR 2013 The branch are pleased to announce their Pub of the year as follows:- 1st Place - Rising Sun High Wych 2nd Place - Queens Head Allens Green 3rd Place - Woodbine Inn Waltham Abbey 15th to 17th March 2013 - Mini Beer Festival at Allens Green Not a CAMRA Festival, but been advised by the Queens Head at Allens Green they are holding one of their mini-beer festivals this weekend. Normally excellent beer from the high novelty self service bar. Special beers on include Bishops Stortford, Old Ale, 5.4% Bishop Nick,Heresy, 4.0% Colchester Brewery, Burton Pale Ale, 4.6% Nethergate, Augustinian, 4.5% Viper Ale (from Mighty Oak), Jake the Snake, 4.0% 12th March 2013 - New Beer Launched by The Sawbridgeworth Brewery Sawbridgeworth have launched a new beer called Gold Extra and ABV of 4.5%. Believed to be a stronger version of their popular Sawbridgeworth Gold. We await comments back from those who have tried it. 22nd March 2013 - Evening starting about 6.00pm The Branch are doing a minibus trip to look at pubs in Chelmsford. To book place please email Bernard choosing Social Secreatary option on the Contact Us Page 11th March 2013 - 8.30-11.00pm Herts &Essex Borders Branch Meeting at the Woodbine Inn Waltham Abbey. All Welcome to this meeting, where we try and keep the formalities short and the social bit long. At this meeting the Branch will be selecting our annual Pub of the Year. Votong on the Pub of the Year is for members only and a membership card is required to vote, but others welcome to watch. 3rd March 2013 - 7.30-11.00pm The Woodbine, Honey Lane Waltham Abbey announces the next Meet the Brewer Event. £20 for five pints food and meet Sophie the Brewer at Brentwood Brewery. Learn more about the Brentwood Brewery & their beers. Further Details 2nd February 2013 CAMRA announces 25 Years of Campaigning for Real Cider & Perry As well as Promoting Real Beer CAMRA has for the last 25 Years promoted real Cider & Perry, with this once almost extinct drink now ever growing in popularity. Further Details 18th-20th January 2013 - All Day Mini-Beer Festival (not CAMRA Run) at Queens Head Allens Green. See Pub Website for Details 6thJanuary 2013 - 6.30pm The Woodbine Pub on Honey Lane Waltham Cross (nr M25 Junction). First monthly meeting of Pub of Real Ale Club with meet the Brewer. £20 gets you five pints and meal, as well as chance to meet the brewer of that month's featured Brewery. January Features Pitfield Brewery. Further Details from Rob (the Landlord) on 07956 983290 or Woodbinefacebook@gmail.com