News
Branch News
- Branch Chair Earns Beer Sommelier Accreditation
Thursday 29 October 2026
Our Chair Mike Clarke has passed a Guild of Beer Sommeliers exam and earned the prestigious title of Beer Sommelier, joining a community of more than 200 existing sommeliers.
Mike, who is also an award-winning beer writer, successfully completed a rigorous examination assessing his beer expertise.
The Beer Sommelier accreditation recognises advanced expertise in beer styles, brewing processes, sensory evaluation, food pairings, and beer service.
Candidates must accurately describe 16 beer styles, identify faults and recommend appropriate food matches for the beers. These tasks also demonstrate their communication skills. Reflecting on his preparation, Mike said, “As an active CAMRA member I was pleased that some traditional English styles were part of my assessment. However, CAMRA has always celebrated the amazing diversity of authentic beer styles produced worldwide, which I’ve enjoyed learning about and tasting as part of my preparation.”
“Achieving Beer Sommelier certification requires both passion and discipline,” said Alex Barlow, Chief Examiner for the Guild of Beer Sommeliers. “I congratulate Mike on his accomplishment and look forward to the expertise and value he will bring to the beer community. Passing the examination reflects a significant commitment to professional development and excellence in beer appreciation.”
To reach the assessment stage, aspiring Beer Sommeliers must first pass several training courses: the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Level 2 Award in Beer, and the Guild of Beer Sommeliers Understanding Off Flavours, Beer and Food Pairing and Cellar Management courses.
The Guild of Beer Sommeliers was set up by an advisory group of industry experts and is supported by the British Beer and Pub Association, the Campaign for Real Ale, Wines and Spirits Education Trust, the Society of Independent Brewers and the British Guild of Beer Writers.
Mike is pictured below with Alex.
- GBG Launch
Thursday 1 October 2026
We have been celebrating the publication of the new edition of the Good Beer Guide for 2027, the guide to the pubs serving the best cask ale across the country.
On publication day, Thursday 24th September, branch members celebrated at the Hop Pole Inn , Aylesbury. This year the pub marks an incredible twenty-one consecutive years in the guide, making it one of the longest-standing entries in the local area.
The pub, on Bicester Road, is described in the guide as a "temple of beer", regularly featuring nine cask ales in excellent condition. It also serves a well-chosen range of lagers and bottled beers.
Mike Clarke, Branch Chair said: "The Hop Pole is a superb example of a pub that serves its community, offering a regular programme of events such as live music, quizzes and ukulele nights. The pub demonstrates the benefits that excellently run pubs can bring to a local area." The pub also stages regular beer festivals, including its own Oktoberfest at the end of September.
On Wednesday 30th September, we visited a pub that is new to the guide this year – the Seven Stars at Dinton. This popular 17th-century Grade II-listed pub is owned by the local community.
Mike Clarke said, “The Seven Stars is a great local asset, and its ownership by the village will safeguard its future for real ale drinkers and for many other community uses.”
Stephanie Guiraute, licensee of the Seven Stars, said, “I am delighted the pub is featured in the new guide. It’s great to be recognised for my cask ales. I really enjoy my English bitters.” The pub is situated in the centre of the village, is popular with cyclists and can be reached by public transport via a short walk from the Aylesbury-Thame main road.
The new edition features thirty pubs from across the Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe branch area, including perennial favourites alongside several new entries. The Good Beer Guide 2027 can be ordered online from CAMRA or found in all good bookshops.
- East Central Region PoTY
Friday 31 July 2026
Our regional Pub of the Year has been announced as the Malt Shovel Tavern, Northampton. The Buckinghamshire Pub of the Year is the Bell & Bear , Emberton.
- Wheel 20-year Award
Saturday 11 July 2026
The branch presented a special certificate to the licensees of the Wheel, Naphill, Mark and Claire Christian. This marked their twentieth anniversary of taking over the pub in the summer of 2006.
Branch deputy chair, Elvis Evans, presented the certificate to Mark and Claire at the pub’s “Ronfest” on 11th July. Ronfest is a music and beer festival that is held for charity annually at the pub in memory of local resident and pub regular Ron Williams, who passed away in 2021.
Mike Clarke, branch chair said, “We recently held a branch meeting at the Wheel and when we heard it was Mark and Claire’s twentieth anniversary at the pub then we immediately decided it should be honoured with a certificate. The Wheel is hugely popular with local real ale drinkers and can always be relied upon to serve a well-kept pint.”
When Mark and Claire took over the pub in 2006, it had seen better days but they rapidly transformed it into a real-ale destination. It has been a regular fixture in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide for almost the whole time Mark and Claire have run the pub. It is also a hub of the local community in Naphill and, being close to countryside in the Chilterns National Landscape, is popular with walkers.
- Summer POTY presentation
Thursday 9 July 2026
Our Summer Pub of the Year award has been won by the George & Dragon in Quainton. A crowd of regulars gathered in the pub’s bar cheered as Mike Clarke, branch chair, presented a certificate to licensee George Newman.
The award was made following a vote by branch members, with the George and Dragon being crowned winner, ahead of second-placed the Chequers Inn in Fingest and third-placed the Swan at Great Kimble. All pubs were praised by members for providing inviting and convivial outdoor spaces in which customers can enjoy a pint of well-kept real ale in the open air.
Mike said: "Our members were especially enthusiastic about the George and Dragon's idyllic location on Quainton's village green. The pub has a number of benches outside and some on the green itself. What could be more summery than enjoying a pint with a fantastic view of the Quainton windmill?"
The pub itself is a hub of the local community and is consistently highly rated for its real ales. Four or more handpumps offer a consistently reliable selection of cask ales, many from local breweries, such as Vale, Chiltern and Tring.
- Grand Assembly
Friday 26 June 2026
The Grand Assembly, has been commended in the Conversion to Pub Use category In CAMRA's Pub Design Awards. The former M&Co retail unit, was designed by architects kdpa for JD Wetherspoon.
- Pub of the Year Runner-up presentation
Monday 18 May 2026
The branch has made a presentation to its 2026 Pub of the Year Runner Up, the King's Head in Aylesbury. The award was voted for by local branch members in an online poll with a close finish between five shortlisted pubs.
The historic King’s Head, just off the Market Square in Aylesbury, is the brewery tap for Chiltern Brewery in Terrick. And, appropriately, the presentation of the certificate was made by Chiltern Brewery liaison officer, Giles du Boulay.
Presenting the certificate to George and Anett Jenkinson, Giles noted the fierce competition for the accolade of Pub of the Year in the local area and the King’s Head’s enduring success in the competition. The branch contains well over two hundred pubs within its boundaries.
Chair Mike Clarke said, "The King’s Head is known and loved among local CAMRA members for the consistently outstanding quality of its cask ales, both those brewed a few miles away in the Terrick brewery and the welcome guest beers from other breweries.”
Branch members also look forward to the pub’s occasional beer festivals, including the very popular dark beer festival that’s traditionally held at the end of January and into February – a time of year in need of warming cheer.
Following the brewery’s recent expansion, Chiltern Brewery has been able to make many more small batch brews and the King’s Head is the place to find them on draught in perfect condition.
- Bell, Hardwick
Monday 4 May 2026
Nick Smith, ex-landlord of the Whip Inn in Lacey Green, a much-missed Good Beer Guide stalwart, reopened the Bell at Hardwick on Thursday 30th April. The pub had been closed for over a year previously.
In the immediate short term the pub is open for drinks only (three real ales on draught — see photo) and Nick hopes to open the kitchen in the next week or two.
The pub is on the bus route between Aylesbury and Buckingham with a bus stop nearby.
- Old Ship Cadmore End Social
Friday 24 April 2026
The branch held a social at the newly reopened Old Ship on Wednesday evening.
The 17th century pub had been closed since 2010 and reopened due to the sterling efforts of landlord Chris Leadbeater. The pub serves up to three cask ales and Chris is pictured behind the handpumps during our visit.
- Joint Branch Pub of the Year Presentations
Tuesday 14 April 2026
Two pubs are to share the award for branch Pub of the Year 2026. The votes of local members resulted in a dead heat between the Hop Pole Inn in Aylesbury and the Lions Of Bledlow in Bledlow.
Mike Clarke, branch chair said, "These two pubs showed the best of town and country. The Hop Pole is both a beer destination pub and a much-valued community local in Aylesbury. By contrast, the Lions of Bledlow is a true Chilterns country pub that also caters for hikers, cyclists and other visitors to our beautiful countryside. What they have in common is serving a wide range of well-kept real ales."
A visit to the Lions of Bledlow may give many visitors a sense of déjà vu. Its photogenic traditional pub ambience, complete with low beams, flagstoned floor and huge fireplace, has kept it in demand as a popular TV and film location, with several episodes of Midsomer Murders filmed at the pub.
The Lions maintains a selection of four or five real ales. Licensee Mark McKeown remarked that high demand over the recent Easter holidays had resulted in the pub selling two barrels of Wadworth 6X over the short bank holiday period.
Fortunately, no homicides were reported when branch chair Mike Clarke presented the joint winner's certificate to licensee Mark McKeown.
As an example of the Hop Pole's commitment to real ale, the joint winner's certificate was presented to licensee Ian Matthews at the start of the Hop Pole's traditional Easter beer festival. However, with the pub maintaining a range of up to ten real ales, some CAMRA members regard any trip to the Hop Pole as a beer festival in itself.
Coverage in the local press.
- Chiltern Brewery
Friday 3 April 2026
Roger Protz an old friend of the brewery has published an article on Pelicle.
- East Central Regional Director
Thursday 2 April 2026
The East Central Region of CAMRA has a vacancy for the position of Regional Director. The details of the post and the nomination/election process is described below.
Close of nomination Friday 24th April 2026
Interested parties to stand for this role should reside in a Branch within the Region. They should email their nomination with a proposer and seconder signature (or email) from two different branches within the Region, these should be sent to Dave Hodgson, the Regional Secretary, at ku.gro.armac.sdebhtron@yraterces (we can provide a postal address or phone number for other means of contact).
Regional Director Role Description
Branches will be notified of candidates by Monday 27th April 2026 and there will be an online meeting of the Region on Monday 1st June 2026 at 7pm, to vote on nominated candidates. Details of the 1st June meeting will be sent to branches with the list of nominated candidates. All branches will have one vote in the election.
If you wish an informal conversation, please do get in contact with Dave.
- Old Ship, Cadmore End
Saturday 28 March 2026
The Old Ship will re-open on 10th April. This is great news. The pub has been shut since 2010. Please support our social on 22nd April to celebrate the reopening of this pub, It just shows that with the right commitment no pub is ever lost.