About the branch Branch Officers click here (elected May 2008) Next meetings: Bus - contact Stephen walker 07747084039 Sat 2nd Aug - bus trip to some or all of Drigg, Seascale, Holmrook, Gosforth Hall (presentation of POTY runner up) tbc August 16th - Social - real ale trip in place of Branch meeting - will follow Egremont to Cockermouth route visiting pubs en or off route, including a visit to Whitehaven Brewery September 3rd Branch Meeting - at the Saluation at Threlkeld at 8pm Future meetings hoped to be at the Bounty in Maryport, the Sunny Hill in Whitehaven and the Blackbeck Bridge Inn. Watch here for dates. West Cumbria Beer Festival - Whitehaven, Nov 21st and 22nd the diary - check this regularly!! Real ale events planned for the next few months, both by the branch and others.... but only if the webmistress is informed!! What does the branch do? Click here for a look at our social and campaigning activities. Branch and County pub awards Cumbria Pub of the Year 2008 Manor Arms, Broughton in Furness (presentation tba) West Cumbria Pub of the Year 2008 Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater Pub of the Season Summer 2008 Stanley Arms, Calderbridge Our Summer Pub of the Season award was presented to the Stanley Arms at Calderbridge on Wednesday 2nd July. Here, Wayne Curtis and Angela McGowen receive their award from branch chair Stephen Walker. Pub of the Season, Summer 2008 Stanley Arms Calderbridge Press release Pub of the Season, Spring 2008 Lowther Arms, Mawbray Press release Pub of the Season, Winter 2007/8 Vagabond, Whitehaven press report Pub of the Season, Autumn 2007 Oddfellows, St Bees Pub of the Season, Summer 2007 1761, Cockermouth Pub of the Season, Spring 2007 Gosforth Hall Hotel Pub of the Season, Winter 2006/7 Middle Ruddings, Braithwaite press report Pub of the Season, Autumn 2006 the Brown Cow, Waberthwaite Pub of the Season, Summer 2006 the Bransty Arch, Whitehaven feature... Pub of the Season, Spring 2006 the Bush Inn, Tallentire feature ... Pub of the Season, Winter 2005 the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite Lake feature ... West Cumbria Pub of the Year 2007 Dog & Gun, Keswick Cumbria Pub of the Year 2007 The well-deserved Prince of Wales, Foxfield. West Cumbria Pub of the Year 2006 Wasdale Head Inn Cumbria Pub of the Year 2006 The well-deserved Wasdale Head Inn. Regional (West Pennines) Pub of the Year 2006 The very well-deserved Wasdale Head Inn. Click for details of past winners. how to join CAMRA Go to the national website where you can join one of the most successful consumer organisations ever. Contact us about the branch, website or about real ale in West Cumbria Links Furness Branch Solway Branch Westmorland Branch Cumbria Branches and Cumbrian Breweries CAMRA HQ Local trading standards offices

This area of the branch home page will feature latest news, what beers have come on where, who has taken over which pub, and anything else newsworthy. If you have anything to add, News urgently awaited!! Newest stuff is generally added to the top of this column. Please email the webmistress@westcumbriacamra.org.uk West Cumbria Pub of the Year 2008 Congratulations to the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater And well done to the runners-up: Gosforth Hall Hotel and 1761 The Manor Arms at Broughton in Furness (Furness branch POTY) won Cumbria Pub of the Year! Holly House, Ravenglass has 5 active handpumps. Regular beers are Jennings Bitter and Cumberland. Recently on the other pumps were Daft Bass, Landlord and Waggle Dance. Blonde With is a regular, too. Old Beer Books offered - free: Given to the webmistress for distribution!! Contact her if you want any of them. Real Ale in Cumbria - undated but pre 1984, contains 3-digit phone numbers!! West Lancs Real Ale Guide - no idea of age but an unusual hand-made book with strange binding! Probably late 70s 'Jennings Country' -a small blue booklet designed by Tom Routledge, with brewery history by N M E Highton, esq, listing all Jennings pubs, with nice line drawings of many of them, drawn by Tom Routledge, and a lovely cartoon of Marra enjoying a pint!! from around 1978 A Robinsons and Hartleys Inns and Hotels Guide, in colour - so not that old, then! Real Ales in Dorset 1986 Real Ale in the Craven Dale 1997 Passport to a Perfect Pint J W Lees 1980 Passport to Badger Country - stamped up! Yates & Jackson Inn Guide, stamped no 2316 Badger Beer Country - 2nd edition 1982 Real Ale & Cider in Hereforshire 1985 Greater Manchester Beer Guide 1985 Boddingtons Brewery Guide and several fold up area lists - early 1970s Real Ale in Gloucs 1978 Real ale in and around Macclesfield and Bollington 1979 St Austell Cornish Passport - super ale trail map and pub lists 'Better pubs of Dorset' map and pub info - lots of inn signs in colour - make a nice poster! North Yorks Ale 1978 Guest beers at the Stanley Arms, Calderbridge Keswick Thirst run and Thirst Quench, followed by Hesket Newmarket Doris's 90th birthday and Catbell's Pale Ale. What Ales The summer issue of our branch newsletter - What Ales? - is out now. The print run is now up to 4,000 copies so hopefully you will find a copy in your local pub or nearby, but let us know if you can't get hold of one. You can download a PDF version to your computer now (see right panel). Many thanks to all our contributors and advertisers. Any ideas, suggestions or contributions for the next issue: please email the editorial team at info@smithplusbell.com The recent branch trip to Yates Brewery was much enjoyed and the new brewery building much admired - many thanks to Graeme and Caroline! A new Yates beer, Cumbrian Ale, 4.5%, has been seen around. Don't miss it! The Lamplugh Tip will be re-opening soon with a good range of real ales on offer, under the ownership of Chris Corkhill, (ex-Candlestick) News from the Blackbeck Brewery on News & Star website The Bounty, Maryport has been carrying a guest beer recently. Tom Fool, Whitehaven Croasdale to name two! And the Lutwidge Arms at Holmrook has been selling Whitehaven Ennerdale Bitter for a while now Whitehaven CAMRA quiz team - next match (Thurs July 17th) against the Legionaires team, at the British Legion, Gt Broughton 8:30pm. All welcome! Top of the league still!! Around 12 members are turning up to matches - has been up to 15/16! We were pleased to have NE member Bob Jones and his partner Sarah Edmondson join us for one match - at Cockermouth Cons Club! Thanks to Chris Morrison at the Vagabond for hospitality. New brewery in our branch on the way: un-verified rumour! At Florence mine, Egremont. Further news as available! Great British Beer Festival - Earls Court - Aug 5th - 9th. Further details here Bitter End news Updated lists of guest beers will be on www.bitterend.co.uk and there is a new Bitter End Brewery BLOG CJs Whitehaven sadly now closed. Cumbrian Breweries website recently been extensively updated. Please click here for information on the 23 breweries and 2 cider makers ! A correspondent, digging his garden in Seascale, came across an old bottle from the Tower Brewery, Whitehaven. He has kindly sent some photos (click here) and would like to know more about the brewery. Any info to the webmistress, please, and it will be forwarded and place on here too. Maryport Labour Club - real ale, Bombardier, was found by the quiz team. In excellent condition! Silloth Golf Club is currently selling Adnam's Bitter and Carlisle State Bitter - try showing your CAMRA card to get in The Distressed Sailor, Whitehaven now sells real ale again. New landlord Mark Fitzpatrick is trying a different real ale fromthe S & N list each month. Deuchars is going down really well with his regulars, even lager drinkers! Mark previously worked at the Kirkstile in Loweswater. Beers on or coming soon at the Dog & Gun Keswick: You can now check their beers direct at their website : http://woofandbang.moonfruit.com Hawkshead Brewery - Beer Festival 24-27 July, 30 plus beers all on handpull served directly from the beer hall cellar. Including an outside bar. Live music on the Fri/Sat evening. Two new breweries on their way in Cumbria - both in the Furness area. See the Furness website here for further information. News from the Strands: Mark has been developing a new lager-type beer called Corrs Berg, 4.1% as well as changing T'errrminator. Boggart Hole Clough brewery have been taking and distributing his beers lately. He is finding it hard to keep up with demand Whitehaven Beer Festival Helpers and planners all needed. The festival will take place on 21st and 22nd November 2008 New brewery on the way (1): The installation of all equipment has been completed at the Old Forge Brewery, Great Corby. They are at present looking for a head brewer/manager who has experience. Howgate Hotel near Whitehaven is rumoured to have real ale on now - can someone check and confirm? The Whittington Cat, Whitehaven Guest beer: Jennings seasonals. Guest beers seem to be going down well there - support them, if you can! Jennings seasonal also planned for this year: Swan's Lake 4.2%: Light chestnut ale with sweet biscuity & malty flavour with a hint of spiciness, in October. Other previous seasonals will appear monthly throughout the year. Cumbria Real Ale Guide The new 2008 edition is now available. Watch out for them on sale and don't miss yours. Further information here. Corrections, Omissions and amendments here These have been notified for our branch area: Bigrigg, Old Captain's House actually listed under Egremont. Cleator, Three Tuns: omitted. One real ales - varying, from Jennings range. Hours at least 1pm - 11pm, earlier in season. Egremont, The Horn of Egremont omitted. Cumberland and Thwaites pump clips but under review because of new management Seascale - Beachcomber omitted: real ale but only in summer season Seascale, Windscale club omitted: Ruddles Best Bitter Whitehaven, Barra Jacks: omitted. Real ales Cumberland and Abbot Ale. Whitehaven Sunny Hill: omitted Cheap beer for CAMRA members!!! The Bransty Arch, Whitehaven continues to sell beer at £1.49 per pint to card-showing CAMRA members. Trying it on in other Spoons around the country, this seems to be unusual - only other example heard of is the North East The Bransty Arch, Whitehaven, continues its policy of serving a range of Cumbrian brewed beers. Lately on: Yates' Fever Pitch; Hawkshead Bitter, Lakeland Gold and Lakeland Red, Ulverston and Cumbria Legendary beers. Brewers welcome to contact them and offer to supply!! Amateur photographers wanted!! If you are willing to help out with images for What Ales, our branch newsletter, please contact Andy or Denise on 01900 821939 or email info@smithplusbell.com Oversized line measure glasses Does your pub serve full pints of beer beer in oversized glasses? Let us know for contenders for a new award and for inclusion on this page Pubs' guest beers can be publicised on here - you only need to send up-to-date details. National Beer Scoring System Join in this scheme to evaluate online the beer in the pubs you visit. Visit here and register as a new user. You need your CAMRA membership number and a password will be emailed to you to enable you to begin using the site. Quick and easy to do, it helps branches know what pubs deserve to be in the Good Beer Guide and which are worth keeping an eye on.

About the pubs Pubs serving real ale All known to the branch are included but for where we think you'll find the best beer, see the latest Good Beer Guide Pubs and children Children are welcome in almost all pubs in this area Pubs with accommodation a bare list - no judgements about facilities or quality! Pubs and the disabled All pubs welcome all visitors, but those where a wheelchair user can be independent are unfortunately few and far between. Pubs and dogs Where are your dogs welcome and not welcome? Pubs by train Carlisle to Barrow Pubs by bus Workington to Penrith, (X4 and X5) Cleator Moor to Cockermouth, (219) Whitehaven to Ravenglass (6) About the Breweries There are 23 breweries and 2 cider makers in Cumbria, now, and this page gives mini descriptions, links to our articles from What Ales and links to their own websites. CAMRA publications: CRAG The brand-new, up-to-date 2008 guide to Real ale pubs and breweries in Cumbria. Click here for further details Summer 2008 WhatAles - the branch newsletter (pdf) Click here to download Spring 2008 WhatAles - the branch newsletter (pdf) Click here to download Winter 2008 WhatAles - the branch newsletter (pdf) Click here to download What Ales Autumn 2007 - the branch newsletter (pdf) Click here to download What Ales Summer 2007 - the branch newsletter (pdf) Click here to download What Ales - our branch newsletter. Articles from past editions Whether you experience a light-bulb moment while downing a swift half or think you have discovered the meaning of life while imbibing your favourite beer, this book is packed full of smart ideas, fully-formed theories, unanswered questions and complete rubbish; the perfect gift for the intellectual in your life! click here to purchase CAMRA's new Beer Bed and Breakfast Guide, - the pick of the country's finest pubs serving real ale with good accommodation. Click here for details or to purchase CAMRA's new Good Pub Food Guide, by Susan Nowak and Jill Adam, our definitive guide to fine cuisine and excellent beer. This unique guide contains over 600 of the best food and real ale pubs in the UK. Click here for details or to purchase The 2008 Good Beer Guide listing the very best sources of quality real ale, both in our area and across the whole country, with a wealth of useful detail such as beers sold, opening times, phone numbers, food available, public transport, accommodation, kids allowed, etc. Click here to order or for further details Other CAMRA publications: click here to go to the CAMRA publications webpages for a great range of beer guides, pub guides, local real ale guides and historic pub guides. Especially useful if you are going on holiday and want to find the best real ale!!