What’s Brewing is highlighting key moments from Members’ Weekend 2026 in St Albans.

CAMRA Northern Ireland was crowned CAMRA’s Campaigner of the Year. Director of CAMRA Northern Ireland, Ruth Sloan, accepted the award on behalf of the branch with a video message. 

Watch and read her speech below. 

Thank you everyone. My name is Ruth Sloan, and I am incredibly proud to be accepting this Campaigner of the Year award on behalf of CAMRA Northern Ireland.

This recognition reflects the work, commitment and determination of a whole group of people who care deeply about pubs, pints and the communities they support across Northern Ireland. It belongs to every member who’s written to an MLA, every volunteer who’s given up their time, every person who has supported the Belfast Beer and Cider Festival and everyone who’s helped keep that campaign front and centre.

Over the past year, we’ve continued our ongoing campaign on licensing reform here in the north of Ireland, specifically focusing on the campaign to scrap the 'surrender principle'. It’s an outdated system that restricts opportunity, limits consumer choice and holds back the development of a vibrant and diverse pub and brewing culture in Northern Ireland creating unnecessary barriers for new entrants and making it harder for innovation to flourish.

We’ve worked hard to change that, engaging with decision makers, raising awareness and making the case that Northern Ireland deserves a modern, flexible licensing system that reflects the reality of today’s beer and pub scene.

And while the fight continues, we have made real progress. We’ve shifted the conversation, we’ve brought this issue into the spotlight, and we’ve shown that change is both necessary and possible. However, the dismissal of the Stirling report by the communities minister at Stormont was a frustrating moment for everyone who wants to see evidence-based reform.

That infuriating decision has helped galvanise not just us, but a wider coalition of voices across Northern Ireland. Other campaigning groups, businesses and supporters who recognise the need for change have added their collective weight to the fight against the 'surrender principle' and that growing sense of shared purpose is only making us stronger.

Alongside our local core campaigning, we’ve continued to stand up for what CAMRA is all about, supporting great local beer and cider, championing independent breweries and protecting our pubs as vital community spaces. Places where people connect, communities are built, and local culture can thrive.

But as important as it is to celebrate this moment, we know the job isn’t done. The surrender principle is still in place. Licensing barriers still exist. Consumer choice is not where we would want it to be. And there’s much more work ahead if we’re going to create the fairer, more open system here I’m sure we all want to see.

That’s why this award is not just recognition, it’s a call to action. Because real change will need the backing across the organisation. I call on you to continue to lend your voices and time to this cause. That’s how we’ve made progress so far, and that’s how we’ll finish the job. Let’s keep pushing. Keep challenging outdated systems.

Keep working as a part of a coalition for change and let’s work together to ensure that Northern Ireland has the thriving, diverse pub culture it deserves. Thank you for this award and for everyone’s continued support. Cheers.