LocAle Pub of the Year Presentation.

The Picture Playhouse, Bexhill’s Wetherspoon’s, was voted branch LocAle Pub of the Year 2024. Members gathered to witness the first branch award for this pub, as branch vice chair Roger presents the award to manager, Sonia. We were pleased to find three LocAle beers available that evening among the large varied offering on the bar.

A coach party of members went to the Roger Daltrey’s family’s Lakedown Brewery at the site of his Trout Fishery, to present the Sussex Beer of the Festival at Eastbourne 2023. Our pictures show members in both the brewery with Head Brewer, Clark and relaxing in the brewery bar by one of the lakes

The multi award winning pub, the Tower, was Branch Pub of the Year Runner Up for 2024. In our picture, Peter Page-Mitchell, pub regular and ex Branch chair, presents licensee Louisa Gover (centre) along with staff member Maisie.

The Waterworks received its seventh CAMRA award in six years when branch members once again met up in the pub with landlord David, from whom we received the usual effusive welcome. The pub has been cider pub of the year or runner four times in the last five years, this year having been judged runner up. Vice Chair Roger (left) is shown presenting the certificate to David who expressed his enthusiasm for CAMRA awards.

South East Sussex Branch of CAMRA was formed in 1974 and one of our previous Branch Chairmen, Peter Page-Mitchell, proposed, organised and acted as Master of Ceremonies at a lunchtime celebration event at the White Rock Hotel. Our first pictures show Peter standing at the corner of a table welcoming over 50 past and present members and introducing the guest speaker, John Williams, the founding Chairman.

In an interesting and entertaining talk John described how he and some other like-minded young people advertised a meeting in the Prince Albert pub, Hastings and were amazed to find a room full of real ale enthusiasts and so the branch was formed. He continued to describe the early years of the branch and was given a rousing round of applause at the end.

The event was hosted by Laurence and Catherine, proprietors of the White Rock, who very kindly provided an excellent buffet ‘on the house’, with no charge for the use of the large room. Pictured below, standing to the left of Peter P-M is Laurence, who was also shown our appreciation with prolonged applause.

In return we kept the four handpumps busy throughout the event, one featuring a couple of casks of a celebration ale, ‘CAMRA South East Sussex 50th Anniversary Beer’. This was conceived and brewed by Rother Valley Brewer and a past Branch Chairman, Colin Smith, who was in attendance; it went down extremely well with those present, more applause, and also in the other local pubs which sold it.

The picture above shows a couple of documents being read, copies of our complete record year by year, of all the pubs in our branch area, including the Sub Branch, which have ever appeared in the Good Beer Guide since the first small booklet in 1972, along with a listing of pub and brewery awards, as far back as we have records.

While (above) some found the distractions of the outside world unmissable. There was plenty of time for socialising …

and for going to the bar, especially for the celebration ale as seen here, is that an empty glass I can see?

All in all an excellent and worthwhile event, particular thanks to Peter P-M, as expressed in the usual manner by the participants. Thanks to all who attended and notably to John, Laurence and Colin. In reply to Peter’s thanks to John after the event, John wrote a reply including: ‘I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the welcome. ... It was much appreciated. It was lovely to see the branch in such good health and in such good hands’. Copies of the two documents referred to above can be found in the members’ area of the branch website or by following these links.

Congratulations to Club Chairman Dorothy, Steward Emma and Cellerman Peter for the club winning Branch Club of the Year 2024. Pictured are Dorothy (centre) with Emma and Branch Chairman Matt.

A group of Members from the Branch visited the Robin Hood on Tuesday 7th May to present the Cider Pub of the Year Award for 2024. The first picture shows outgoing Branch Cider Rep Phil Packham presenting the Award certificate to licensee Carly D’Arcy. Other pictures show: Carly with members of her family and staff proudly displaying the Award;

Branch Members enjoying the extensive range of cider and perry available.

The Eastbourne Cider of the Festival 2023 was Seacider’s Raspberry Ripple. Two branch members made the journey to Ditchling to present the award. Cider maker Mark is stretched, to the extent that the husband and wife team were relieved to employ their son, returning from university for Easter. So it was on the understanding that it would be a short visit that we arrived at the cidery. Nevertheless we were made welcome, had a quick tour of the impressive premises, once Goldstone Brewery, had a quick taste and Cider Rep Phil made the presentation as seen in the pictures.The Eastbourne Cider of the Festival 2023 was Seacider’s Raspberry Ripple. Two branch members made the journey to Ditchling to present the award. Cider maker Mark is stretched, to the extent that the husband and wife team were relieved to employ their son, returning from university for Easter. So it was on the understanding that it would be a short visit that we arrived at the cidery. Nevertheless we were made welcome, had a quick tour of the impressive premises, once Goldstone Brewery, had a quick taste and Cider Rep Phil made the presentation as seen in the pictures.

When landlord David started out on his Waterworks pub journey his mission was to serve local products and when the Waterworks brewery was opened this became even easier as its beers joined the other ales from an easy journey to the pub. So it was no surprise when branch members voted it Locale Pub of the Year for 2023 to add to the many other awards the pub has gained in a short time. Branch Secretary Peter can be seen with landlord David in the difficult lighting for photography in the pub.

A minibus took a group of enthusiastic branch members deep into North East Sussex Sub Branch territory to attend the Crowborough Cooper’s Arms ‘Dark & Delicious’ and we were not disappointed. While we were there the North East Sussex Branch Chair, John, presented landlord Dave with a certificate to mark the pub’s twentieth consecutive year appearing in the Good Beer Guide. The pictures show a group of branch members and Dave proudly showing of his certificate, with John standing to the right.

.

The Branch Meeting at the Club gave us a chance to meet the new Head Steward, Emma, as she was serving behind the bar and then called in to welcome us at the start of the meeting. This meeting marked the last for branch member Peter Page-Mitchell as Sussex Area Organiser and Brewery Liaison Coordinator for our region and beyond, although we know he will carry on being an extremely active member of the Branch. Before the meeting closed Branch Chair Peter Adams, presented Peter P-M with a certificate in appreciation of all he has done for our branch, noting that he had already been presented with a well deserved Gold Award for what he has done in the wider CAMRA sphere. Peter P-M handed over a thriving branch when as Chairman he moved over to Sussex Area Organiser. During the intervening years he has remained a valued, hardworking and supportive branch member as well as supporting the branch as AO and BLC. Because at this time both Branch Chair and Vice Chair have been based in Eastbourne, he has acted as a de facto Vice Chair in the Hastings area, his enthusiasm for pubs and pub people a real asset to the Branch. Of particular note is his organisation of the delivery of the Sussex Drinker in the eastern part of the Branch. Thank you Peter for what you have done and hopefully will continue to do for the Branch.

Although most branch socials take in two or three pubs, Rye has so many good pubs close together that we decided to take in four that evening. After drinking in the Globe Inn Marsh, Waterworks and Mermaid we ended up in the Pipemakers, a more recent addition to pubs serving an excellent selection of real ales in the town. We were pleased to meet up with Norman (front left) from Herts/Essex Borders Branch who has been touring many of our pubs and helpfully noticing items which need updating on WhatPub which pass us locals by.

The Branch having visited earlier in the year when Battle Brewery received an award for one of its beers, this time BLO Mac went on his own to give the pub the good news that it was making its debut in the Good Beer Guide. This is a pub tied to the brewery, so not surprisingly brewery owners Rob and Joanna Dudman were delighted with its inclusion, as was Rob the bar manager who is pictured in front of his casks with the GBG poster for the pub.

Another pub entering the Good Beer Guide for the first time ever in the 2023 edition, is the Nag’s Head, recently renovated and reopened under a new licensee, Denise Cottey, the five handpumps serving a rather more interesting range of ales than before. Branch member and Sussex Area Organiser Peter P-M visited this local pub in the side streets of lower St. Leonards with the good news of its inclusion and is pictured outside the pub with Denise and a copy of the Guide.

Peter P-M was so pleased when one of his favourite pubs reached its tenth consecutive year in the Good Beer Guide that he arranged a ‘ceremonial selling’ of a copy of the 2023 Guide to landlady Louisa. In our picture he is handing the book to her while other branch members look on approvingly. The Branch will present Louisa with a certificate marking the achievement, probably sometime in the new year.

After two previous proprietors of this pub, Harvey’s first ever tied house, had found it difficult to run a viable business at the pub, Mike Corfield took over as landlord, improved standards all round and the Bull’s Head returned to the Good Beer Guide a year later in 2011, in which it remained for the rest of his tenure. The winner of three CAMRA branch awards along the way, Mike has transformed the pub into a venue popular and valued by the local community and a destination for visitors and tourists. The CAMRA Branch decided to mark Mike’s retirement by meeting at the pub and presenting him with a tribute. Current manager Anna and chef Martin take over the tenancy and we shall be keen to see that they at least maintain the high standards Mike has set, particularly of the ale.
Our pictures show Mike receiving and accepting the award and the group raising a glass to his retirement

The Festival is run by Eastbourne Borough Council Events Team in collaboration with the CAMRA Branch, which selects the beers and ciders, prepares and serves them. Unfortunately train strikes hit the attendance, a large number of ‘no shows’ reduced sales, however for those who attended the festival was a successful and enjoyable event. CAMRA volunteers worked hard, setting up the equipment, serving customers and taking it down afterwards. Particular mention must be made of our new Festival Organiser, Robert, ably assisted by Phil C, recently retired from that role.
Phil P selected the Ciders, local makers were well represented and Peter A selected the Ales, fifty from Sussex and fifty from further afield. Thanks are also due to our colleagues at Eastbourne Borough Council’s Events Team who oversee the running of the festival.
Beer of the Festival: Harvey’s (Lewes), Prince of Denmark, [Runner up: Route 21 (Eastbourne), Drift - our first KeyKeg beer at an Eastbourne festival].
Sussex Beer of the Festival: Long Man (Litlington), Oatmeal Stout [Runner up: Kissingate, (Lower Beeding, West Sussex), Black Cherry Mild]
Sussex Exemption Beer of the Festival: Saltaire (Shipley, West Yorkshire), Triple Choc, [Runner up: Dark Revolution, (Salisbury, Wiltshire), Velveteen].
Cider/Perry of the Festival: Double Vision, (Maidstone), Elderflower Perry.
Four new members were signed up at the Festival by Membership Secretary, Peter R.
Our pictures show: Phil P and Kris behind the Cider bar. The whole team serving at the Sussex Bar. One person standing in a corner of the National Bar. Somebody ready and someone else trying to escape from the National Bar. Three wise men of the beer world in the other corner of the National Bar.

In Eastbourne’s town centre Enterprise Centre can be found a bar, Ninkaci, which amongst its keg offering has a number of KeyKeg beers and it was here we made the third in a hat trick of awards that evening. The wife and husband team, Jo and Andy, from the Crown, a pub up the road, run the bar. The Crown has been a CAMRA branch award winner three times in the last eight years, but this is the first time Ninkaci, managed day to day by Jo, has been so recognised. We were delighted to give them the award for the highest average NBSS score for 2020/21 and to see the new larger premises it occupies in the Enterprise Centre following a recent move, a testament to its success. The picture shows the presentation by Branch Chair, Peter Adams.

Voted by the branch as Country Pub of the Year, this was the first award for this village pub remote to most of us on the northern border of the county and branch area, which some members present were visiting for the first time. It is run by daughter and father team of Harriet and Dale and is achieving more than creditable NBSS scores, many by Kent CAMRA members who pass that way and notably for the house beer brewed by Rother Valley. Our hosts expressed pleasure that CAMRA had recognised them and their pub with an award, well deserved. The picture shows Dale and Harriet receiving the award behind their bar.

Big Smoke won the November 2021 Eastbourne Beer Festival ‘Beer of the Festival, Sussex Exemption’ award. Having tried to contact the brewery by e-mail on three occasions and failed to elicit a response, a determined small group of three branch members decided to set out regardless, as having consulted the brewery website it was clear that from the Saturday opening hours, we were sure to find everything there in full swing. Having travelled by train to Esher with a change at Clapham Junction, there was a mile’s walk to the Brewery Bar. As we arrived outside the premises, two people leaving told us that they were just closing, in case we were wanting a drink. We arrived to find an empty bar inside and out, it turned out that they had just closed in favour of a private function a little later. The staff present were most apologetic about the unanswered e-mails, but said none of them had access to the account. However they were most appreciative of the award and our efforts to present it They provided us with a pint on the house, which on a warm day was most welcome. Although there were a couple of handpumps, neither were in action and all the keg beers were light in colour, the award winning Underworld Milk Stout was not in evidence, although this was hardly a surprise in August. So it was keg beer for two of us and the cider option for the other. Pictures show the brewery staff accepting the award from Howard, Peter and Steve, the three travellers.



While the staff prepared the inside for the forthcoming function, we sat outside in the welcome shelter with our drinks, Howard and Steve having chosen the same beer from the range offered.





Having investigated nearby pubs, we realised that anywhere we went would take us further from Esher station, so instead we decided to return to Clapham Junction where there is always a good range offered at the Falcon. Arriving at the Falcon, we found that it was closed for a fortnight for refurbishment, but fortunately the nearby Wetherspoon’s, the London & South Western, was able to supply us with a darker beer most, if not all, of us were craving. But with only one beer outside the core Wetherspoon’s range of the bar and with us desiring another beer, we decided to make for East Croydon and the micropub run by a local brewery, the Cronx, which two of us remembered from a successful visit on a CAMRA beer tour in 2017. We arrived to find the Cronx disappeared, it having closed in September 2021 and instead a popular loud music venue occupying the premises. As it turned out, the solution was once again Wetherspoon’s, as we made the short walk to the George, where again we were able to buy good quality ale outside the core range. Then it was the train home, reflecting that a phone call to the brewery might have been a good idea. However we made the award and a selection of exclusively keg light coloured beer was not likely to have kept us at the brewery for more than the one drink, so by any measure not all bad.

The Branch makes two annual Beer of the Year awards, one covering breweries in the Branch and Sub Branch area, the other including breweries from the whole of Sussex. These are awarded on the basis of the NBSS scoring over the year, with the proviso that a beer has been scored a meaningful number of times by different people in a variety of pubs or clubs. Because of the severe disruption caused by the pandemic, the most recent awards were made combining the scores from 2020 and 2021. The winner of the Branch Area Beer of the Year was Battle Brewery’s One Hop Wonder. So it was that branch members gathered in the Brewery Tap in Battle High Street to make the award. Branch Chair, Peter Adams, explained how special this award is, because beers are assessed by CAMRA members from near and far in our pubs and clubs, so the winner has been found consistently excellent over the year(s), rather than from a single cask at a single event like a beer festival. The first two pictures show Peter presenting Brewer Ian with award.



The third picture shows Ian with CAMRA’s Brewery Liaison Officer, Mac, and brewery owners Rob (behind) and Jo, proudly showing off the certificate.



Our next two pictures show branch members enjoying the ambiance of and the beer in the Battle Tap; to celebrate the award everyone present was offered a One Hop Wonder on the house.



The final picture shows Ian clutching the award, in accepting it on behalf of the brewery he said he was most proud, it was his first award as a brewer. The constant smile he had all evening showed he meant it and he was rewarded by a hearty round of well deserved applause and cheers as all present raised a glass.

Following on from their award for South East Sussex Club of the Year 2022, the club has now gained a further one for Sussex Branches Club of the Year 2022. The Sussex Club of the Year is judged from the Clubs of the Year of the six Sussex branches, so great and well deserved recognition of the all round excellence of the club and its beer. Picture shows Peter Page-Mitchell presenting the certificate to club chair, Dorothy Ashwood.

During a branch visit, the pub was presented with a certificate as our Cider Pub of the Year 2022. The Waterworks was Pub of the Year in 2020 but the pandemic meant it never had the chance to compete for the Sussex award. By way of compensation we awarded it Pub of the Year 2021 as well, a year when no other pub awards were made. Pictures show our vice chairman, Roger Green, right, presenting to the owner, David Roder.

Pig & Porter Brewery at High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells, won the Beer of the Festival (Sussex Exemption) at the October 2019 Eastbourne Beer Festival. It had been planned to make the award at the next open day the brewery held, but this was postponed due to the pandemic. The next opportunity came up in April this year, but as it clashed with the National Members’ Weekend in Eastbourne, the award was made by Richard Saunders, one of the North East Sussex members attending the open day. Our picture shows brewery staff with the certificate.

In recent years the branch has moved from holding a vote for its Cider Pub of the Year (CPotY) at a branch meeting to visiting a number of shortlisted cider pubs, and then voting after those visits. It’s the same way that the branch Pub of the Year (PotY) is selected.

The branch is fortunate to have a number of pubs selling high quality real cider. CAMRA recently strengthened the definition of real cider, principally ruling out the use of concentrated apple juice. This means that a number of pubs can no longer be considered to offer real cider, mainly those that only sold ciders from Westons and Thatchers. Nevertheless, a shortlist of four pubs was agreed: the Albion, Hastings; the Brickmaker’s Alehouse, Bexhill; the Jolly Fisherman, Hastings and the Waterworks, Rye. The strength of this shortlist is borne out by the fact that two previous winners of the Branch CPotY award, the Tower, St. Leonards and the George in Hailsham, could not get onto the shortlist this time.

Despite the best efforts of Storm Eunice to put us off, causing a one-week postponement, a group of members visited all four pubs, by public transport, on 26th February. An eclectic mix of ciders were enjoyed at all four locations. Ciders from Sussex and Kent, including from Ascension, Hunts of Sedlescombe, Nightingale and Wise Owl were enjoyably sampled, as well as ciders from further away, such as Celtic Marches (Worcester), Pulpt (Somerset) and Ross-on-Wye!



Sampling and scoring in Waterworks, Rye

Scoring is based on the same principles as the PotY vote with a number of categories to ensure the breadth and depth of the pub and cider offer was tested. Quality of cider as well as knowledge and promotion of the product carry a premium weighting. Not that we had to worry about any quality issue as the scores at all four pubs exceeded Good Beer Guide standards.



A likely looking bunch outside the Albion in Hastings

The results were close but there has to be a winner, so this year the award went to the Waterworks in Rye with the Brickmaker’s Alehouse, Bexhill, a very close runner-up. The current holder of the award, the Jolly Fisherman in Hastings, was only a few points behind. In summary, it was an enjoyable day visiting four welcoming pubs to sample some familiar and unusual ciders. Members from other branches should always find something of interest should they visit any of them.

Phil Packham

While we have a good number of pubs which are recognised as being at the heart of their communities and so deservedly in the running for the Branch Community Pub of the Year, there is no doubt that this was a well deserved award for proprietors Andy and Jo. All the regular beers have a following from particular groups of loyal regulars and there is always an interesting guest ale available of varying beer styles. The pub was visited in the period after lockdown when visits to pubs were confined to gardens and the award was duly presented to Andy in the pub’s garden.

After the previous long term tenants left the Hurst, the pub had a number of short term proprietors who kept it ticking over, but it was when Adrian and Annabel took over that things started to happen, as they built the pub up again and it now sells five Harvey’s ales, all to a high standard. This is the first brewery tied pub to be voted our LocAle Pub of the Year; Peter Adams visited the outside of the pub to present the award to Adrian while the beer was settling in the cellar for the post lockdown reopening.

At the Eastbourne Beer Festival, an award is made for the Beer of the Festival from a Sussex Microbrewery. It is not unknown for there to be a tie when the votes of the festival goers have been counted, but for the first time two beers from the same brewery tied at the festival in 2019. So it was a double celebration when branch members visited Battle Brewery to present the awards to Rob and Jo for Abbey Pale and Alan the Red.

In mid November, branch members trod a familiar path as they assembled at the Albatross Club for two presentations, the first being our Branch Club of the Year, being awarded to the club for the ninth consecutive year. With its five handpumps and policy to sign in CAMRA members for a limited number of occasions it is without peer amongst the clubs in the branch area. The presentation was made to Head Bar Steward, Karen Pelham and Assistant Head Bar Steward, Peter Fell. Branch Chair Peter Adams echoed something Karen had said at a number of previous presentations, that despite the number of CAMRA awards they have received they never take them for granted, saying that we did not take them for granted either, they and their hard work are much appreciated by us. Sadly the previous Club Chairman, John Leahy, who had guided the club over the time that it rose to prominence in CAMRA circles, died between the time we decided to make award and the presentation itself; he is much missed. The assembled company confirmed their appreciation of him and his contribution. Following this award, Area Organiser Peter Page-Mitchell then explained that the next stage for a branch club of the year was to compete for the Sussex Pub of the Year and he was pleased to award this to the Club too.

Two presentations were made at the branch meeting at the beginning of September by Branch Chair Peter Adams. The first was made to Laurence, proprietor of the hotel, as it had been voted Branch LocAle Pub of the Year for the second successive year. This was partly in recognition of the policy adopted by Laurence and partner Catherine, since they took over the hotel and developed its bar, of only taking beers from Sussex, but also of the high standard of beer served. In reply Laurence thanked the Branch for its continued support.

The second presentation was to one of the Branch’s own, webmaster, Peter Harrison. After seeing Branch Website awards made at the National Members’ Weekend in Dundee in April to the Branch Website of the Year and the Runner Up, out of the blue a certificate with no other information enclosed arrived in the post at Peter A’s house. It named our branch as a finalist in the Website of the Year competition. In awarding the certificate to Peter H, Peter A praised branch members who send material to him, without which we would not have received the award, but to ‘hear hears’ from members present, he added that it was the way Peter had developed the website, the speed and efficiency with which things are posted and his unfailingly keeping the website up to date that were such important factors.

Following straight on from the visit to Boreham Street in late August, members moved on to Wetherspoon’s George Hotel, to award the pub Cider / Perry Pub of the Year. This was the third successive year the pub had won the award, but unlike the previous years when it was decided by a straight vote at a branch meeting, this time a more rigorous procedure was used. This was devised by Branch Cider Co-Ordinator, Phil Packham, who introduced the CAMRA Cider PotY points system for judging and in addition organised a tour of the four shortlisted pubs. All credit to the George which ran out winner under the new system too, under the guidance of former manager Mitch Lowe. We were delighted that the NBSS evidence showed that under new manager Tom Curley the standard had been maintained, and it was he who is pictured with Phil and Branch Chair Peter receiving the award, as by the time of the presentation, he had taken over managing the pub.

The Branch surprised Adrian and Andrea in late July when the Branch Chair had told them that he would appear to present the Pub of the Year Runners Up award one Tuesday evening. In the event they found their front bar full of CAMRA members, having expected just one person. A warm welcome on a warm summer evening found the beer in the good form, Harvey’s Dark Mild and Tom Paine proving particular popular, scoring Very Good and often better on the NBSS system. At the presentation we heard how Adrian and Andrea have revitalised the pub during their tenure, after the pub had been in the hands of a succession of temporary managers, usually selling just one beer, it now sells five in good form.

After a year as runner up, the Tower reclaimed its former position as Branch Pub of the Year for 2019. In warm weather at the end of June, in front of CAMRA members and an enthusiastic group of local pub regulars, Peter, Branch Chair made the presentation to landlady Louisa, congratulating her on yet another award. In reply Louisa praised her staff, assembled behind the bar for the presentation, as shown in our pictures, and thanked her regulars for their support of their pub.

One of our newest pubs, the Waterworks, the first micropub to open in the Rye area, did not take long to gain its first CAMRA award. Up against strong competition, four pubs with exciting ranges of ciders and perries were on the shortlist for Cider & Perry Branch Pub of the Year, the Waterworks ran out runner up. Praising the relative newcomer for making an immediate impact on the local cider (and beer) scene, sourcing all of the ciders (and beers) locally, Phil Packham, Branch Cider Co-ordinator joined Branch Chair, Peter Adams, in making the presentation, with some of the pub’s enthusiastic locals lending their support, to the obvious delight of landlord David Roder.

A good number of members helped out at Beer & Cider by the Sea, a festival in marquees on Eastbourne seafront at the end of May, one of two festivals run by Eastbourne Borough Council Events Team in conjunction with the Branch. The other festival is the larger one indoors in the Devonshire Quarter in October.

Our pictures show the equipment being set up, some of the workers taking a break in the sun, early arrivals settling down to their beer on the Saturday morning, the beer bar and branch members behind it.

On Saturday 8 branch members set off for the annual trip to visit the 5 pubs of the year, as voted for by the other Sussex branches. The first 3 on the minibus had contrived a breakfast bacon roll plus a quick pint at the Tower in St. Leonards, before the trip started. Several other members were collected on the way through Bexhill and Eastbourne, finally arriving at the first pub, the Kings Head in East Hoathly, the PoTY of our sub-branch North East Sussex. Such was the efficiency of our driver, Bob, that we arrived before the pub opened and we had to endure a ten minute wait before the serious business of the day could start. We were welcomed by the landlord, who explained the various beers on offer. Unfortunately, beers were being changed on 2 of the pumps, so the choice was somewhat restricted. After being joined by another of our members and sampling various beers, we departed for Lewes, to pick up yet another member, from our sub-branch.

Our next stop was the White Horse at Maplehurst, a pub that we have visited at least twice in recent years, being testament to its high regard in the North Sussex Branch. We received a warm welcome and made our preferred selections from the many and varied beers available. We also had lunch there, so staying somewhat longer and providing the opportunity to indulge in more than the mandatory single beer. All the beers tried were in very good condition and everyone was very happy with their food. Unfortunately, it was rather too cold to dine outside but we were comfortably accommodated in the pubs’ conservatory. Judging by the amount of other customers both eating and drinking, this pub remains very popular.

The next pub visited was the Hornet in Chichester. This micro pub is the first in the city and despite being open for only 18 months or so has clearly gained a very good reputation, very quickly, from the West Sussex branch. Unusually, it benefits from an additional upstairs room, meaning that there is more customer space, away from the cosy bar. An interesting incentive advertised in the bar is the 100 club. A free T-shirt is provided to anyone sampling that many beers there. Unfortunately, our stay time precluded completion of this task but it’s a good reason to return. There was an interesting variety of beers on offer, all of which were very good and reasonably priced.

Moving East, our next visit was another micro pub, the Green Man Ale and Cider House in Tarring. This is the second consecutive year that the Arun and Adur branch have chosen this as their PoTY. We were welcomed by the owner and made our selections from the various beers on offer. Judging by the amount of customers there, this pub remains very popular and clearly many of the customers know each other but there was no indication of cliquiness.

The final pub visited was Brighton Bierhaus, PoTY of Brighton and Southdowns branch. Being mid to late afternoon on a Saturday, it was understandably quite busy yet we were served quickly and the prices were reasonable. There was a decent choice of both cask and keg beer but we stuck to the cask, all of which was in good form. Our presence probably doubled the average customer age but it was good to see the popularity of beer amongst all ages.

By now it was time to head home. It had been a long but very worthwhile day, visiting pubs that otherwise we probably wouldn’t see very often. Our grateful thanks to Bob, our driver, for his excellent navigation and time keeping, which maximised our drinking time and enjoyment. Also to Bill for organising the transport and to Howard and Peter for the photos.

North East Sussex Sub Branch awarded the King’s Head both Pub of the Year and Cider/Perry Pub of the Year in a double presentation in March. A group of South East Sussex members joined those from the Sub Branch at the pub. Proprietors Bob and Tracey and barman Owen (right) are pictured with Sub Branch Chair Steve with the two certificates marking the awards.

At the first branch gathering of the year, Peter Page-Mitchell, Sussex Area Organiser and branch member, was presented with the Branch Campaigner of the Year Award for 2018. It was his idea to set out to visit and score beers in as many different branch pubs as possible in 2018, a challenge which another member took up. Although in the final analysis Peter did not manage the most pubs, he received the award for originating the idea which played a significant part in ensuring that a record number of different branch pubs received a ‘CAMRA visit’ during the year, which in turn helped the branch in keeping WhatPub as up to date as possible. Unfortunately we do not have a pictorial record of this presentation.