As another year comes to a close, I’d like to say a sincere thank you for the support of CAMRA from members up and down the country.  

This has been another tough year for the licensed trade, with scores of pubs and small brewers closing for business, all while consumers have had to tighten their belts.  

It has also been a tough year for everyone within the CAMRA family, as we regroup in the post-pandemic world where the landscape for voluntary and campaigning organisations is changing. However, I’m proud of the work that we have done for consumers, pubs, social clubs, brewers, and cider and perry makers in 2023. 

The demolition of the Crooked House pub in Himley shocked us all this summer. CAMRA members locally and across the country have been at the forefront of fighting for changes to the law in all nations of the UK to make sure that pubs are properly protected in the planning system from demolition or conversion and that the authorities have the powers to make sure they are rebuilt brick-by-brick if necessary. 

In August we saw the introduction of a new system of taxation, meaning that draught beer and cider served in pubs and clubs now has a lower rate of duty than other drinks. This is a hugely important new principle in how alcohol is taxed and has been something CAMRA members have been campaigning for over many years. Our mission now is to make sure that consumers and our locals feel the maximum benefit by cutting the draught duty rate to help pubgoers and give the on-trade a fighting chance against the likes of supermarket alcohol. 

We have campaigned for extra help for pubs and breweries with the burden of business rates, helping to secure a 75 per cent discount in England and we’ll continue to push to deliver support for venues in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and for full reform of the unfair rates systems too.  

CAMRA continues to work to make sure new recycling schemes, including refundable deposits on cans and bottles, don’t disadvantage smaller producers or damage consumer choice. We are campaigning against the return of bans on alcohol advertising and promotion in Scotland which would damage consumer choice, festivals, pubs and producers. 

This year has seen a number of successes for the organisation, including with our publishing arm CAMRA Books. This year boasted another stellar showing, beginning with the Good Beer Yearbook 2023, which was a fantastic round-up of news, events and topics in the beer world, written by 20 insider voices and curated by Emma Inch. We're incredibly proud to have published the story of Desi Pubs by David Jesudason, which was the winner of the Best Book on Beer or Pubs award from the British Guild of Beer Writers, with David also claiming the prestigious Michael Jackson Award for Beer Writer of the Year. Another title published by CAMRA this year – CASK, written by Des de Moor – won silver in the Best Book about Beer or Pubs category at the guild awards.  

The Good Beer Guide 2024 was introduced with a bang at the launch event at Signature brewery in Walthamstow. The cover of this year’s guide was graced by Iron Maiden’s mascot Eddie, proving that no idea is too out there for the CAMRA Books team! Manchester’s Best Beer Pubs and Bars by Matthew Curtis was published this autumn, with two fantastic launch events helping to spread the word. 

Then rounding out the year, the Books and Campaigns teams came together to garner support for a Kickstarter campaign to fund Adam Wells’ new title Perry: A Drinker’s Guide, the first consumer guide to perry which will be published in 2024. This campaign was incredibly successful, exceeding its target quickly during Perry Month in October.  

CAMRA’s inaugural Perry Month was a fantastic showing for CAMRA’s Learn & Discover platform, which produces written and video content from the leading voices from the world of beer, cider, perry and pubs. This year, the platform claimed gold for Best Corporate Beer Communication at the British Guild of Beer Writers awards, adding to its growing haul of awards having already won gold for the same category in 2021. 

Next year will bring new challenges for the Campaign, including navigating a summer without the Great British Beer Festival as we know it. Work is already underway to make sure we maximise the opportunity to make the summer months successful for pubs, clubs, breweries and cider producers, as well as for the Campaign itself.  

As we face a crucial Spring Budget from the chancellor and a UK General Election, 2024 will bring many opportunities for securing a fair deal for pubs, social clubs, breweries and cider producers. CAMRA stands ready to work with parliamentarians from all parties and governments in all parts of these islands to fight for a fairer tax system for beer and pubs, for proper planning protections so valued pubs and clubs can be saved and retained as community assets, to protect the UK’s brewing heritage and for a fair crack of the whip for small, independent breweries and cider producers looking to bring their products to a wider audience. 

Once more we face a new year with uncertainty about what it will bring, but I have no doubt that with the continued passion and enthusiasm of our members, we will continue to make waves and continue to protect the beers, cider, pubs and clubs we all love so dearly.  

Whether you plan to enjoy a pint, a meal, or just a soft drink and some company, please do get out and support your local this festive season. I hope you will join me in raising a toast or two at your local pub, social club or taproom, and remember that January is often the time when the trade needs us most.  

Wishing you and your loved ones a very happy Christmas and New Year.  

Nik Antona  
CAMRA national chairman