A record 16 members (one behind the camera and another elsewhere!) - half of those who then subscribed - and 2 guests attended our 1ST Social in 2023
2025 Events
Confirmed:
Saturday, 25th October
'Keeping a (Red)breast of Czech Brews'
2pm - Nicholas Nickleby, 6, Ferme Park Road, Stroud Green, N4 4ED
Within sight of the elevated Stroud Green railway station (closed), this shop conversion, acquired by Bohem last year, nonetheless features extensive wood panelling, an impressive fireplace and, even, a screen in the back bar indicating when buses are next due. It aims to be less of a Czech beer hall and more a London pub with a Czech 'twist' so, to this end, also sells appropriate brews from other London microbreweries.
then
4pm - The Stapleton Tavern, 2-4, Crouch Hill, Stroud Green, N4 4AU
A short walk away (or a W3 bus ride a couple of stops) back towards Finsbury Park, this large landmark pub on a prominent corner, is a true free house with an 'L' - shaped bar and a back room sporting a superb lantern.
then
5.30pm - The Old Dairy, 1-3, Crouch Hill, Stroud Green, N4 4AD
On the opposite corner, this Grade II-listed building was actually The Friern Manor Farm Dairy when built in 1889. Equally impressive both inside - with many distinct areas for both eating and drinking - and outside - with tiled depictions illustrating the many milk production processes - the beer range is less free than when opened as a pub in 1997 but more GK-range orientated today.
then
7pm, Robin Ale & Cider House, 29, Crouch Hill, Stroud Green, N4 4AP (jointly with APPFEL).
A few steps north is this former grocery shop and Post Office which was an early Wetherspoons conversion - when known as Marler's Bar - and was then owned by Tolly Cobbold of Ipswich in the late 1980s until that brewery's demise just after the turn of the century. Now a renowned freehouse run by an ex-manager of The Southampton Arms in Kentish Town, it is currently North London CAMRA's Cider Pub of the Year.
Crouch Hill railway station is almost within sight further north and frequent W7 buses depart nearby from a stop opposite the pub for Finsbury Park.
For mid-2026, a Social is being pencilled-in for:
A possible trip to Ely.
Proposed (short term):
'Bill English Memorial Trip to Amsterdam's Bock Beer Festival (jointly with SPBW) - tba
Further details will be posted here in due course.
Proposed (long term):
'Further London Lager Microbreweries'
Noon - Antwerp Arms, 168-70, Church Road, Tottenham, N17 8AS then
1.30pm - True Craft (ex-West Green Tavern), 68, West Green Road, South Tottenham, N15 5NR, then
3pm - Bohem Brewery Tap Room, Unit 5, Littleline House, 41-3, West Road, Northumberland Park, N17 0RE then
4.30pm - One Mile End Brewery Tap Room, Unit 2, Compass West Estate, 32, West Road, Northumberland Park, N17 0XL then
6pm - Redemption Brewery Tap Room, Unit 16, Compass West Estate, 32, West Road, Northumberland Park, N17 0XL Closes 7pm
(All taprooms are adjacent to each other, One Mile End moving into Redemption's premises when the latter relocated and Bohem moving nearby to create a venue adjacent to their resited brewery additional to that at Bowes Park.)
CAMAL membership badges should be worn - by those who have them! - by all participating members at every event.
This depiction of mediæval monastic brewing appears to have the CAMAL tankard clearly in view!
You have missed:
Friday, 29th August
'Wading into Kent Breweries & Micros'
1pm - The Sun, The Street, St. Nicholas at Wade, CT7 0NP.
This fine pub, built c. 1900 by the defunct East Kent brewery, was reopened after renovation in August 2021. Then:
1.45pm - The Bell, The Street, St. Nicholas at Wade, CT7 0NT.
Immediately opposite, this characterful, 17th century, ex-Fremlin's pub, albeit modernised and refurbished over the years, is a former GBG regular. Then:
2.15pm - Wantsum Brewery, The Kent Barn, St. Nicholas Court Farm, Court Road, St. Nicholas at Wade, CT7 0PT.
Established in 2009, Wantsum expanded in mid-2024 by taking over Tatton brewery in Cheshire(!) and brews virtually a full range of beer styles packaged in as many different forms and which are available from its on-site taproom which opens at 2pm daily. Then:
4.20pm - Goody Ales, Bleangate Brewery, Bragg's Lane, Herne Common, CT6 7NP.
Opening at 4pm, Goody's taproom (The Cathedral) exhibits many of its range of brews, varying from milds to porters, built up since the venture commenced in 2012. Then:
5.40pm - The Smuggler's Inn, 1, School Lane, Herne, CT6 7AN.
Adjacent to our main objective here, this former smuggler's haunt dates back 400 years and is where bat & trap is still played in the garden and beers from Shepherd Neame's own microbrewery were, apparently, to be sold over the bar here. Then:
6.05pm - Butcher's Arms, 29A, Herne Street, Herne, CT6 7HL.
Cited as the original micropub, certainly after the 2003 Licencing Act made shop conversions easier, the concept probably began with the Cock-a-Snook in Reading in 2000. As Martyn Hillier, owner of the Butcher's Arms winds down his involvement prior to retiring, his pub now opens on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings only and thus CAMAL - succesfully - took the opportunity to visit before its sale or closure. GBG 2025. Then:
7.40pm - Parkerville, 210 High Street, Herne Bay, CT6 5AD.
As befits a former music store, a small piano resides in the front corner bar whilst the rear bar houses an occasional-use only TV. GBG 2025. Then:
8.30pm - Bouncing Barrel, 20, Bank Street, Herne Bay, CT6 5EA.
Named after Barnes Wallis' bouncing bombs, which were trialled along the coast nearby, this micro uses old workshop benches as tables. GBG 2025.
Most rendezvoused at Victoria station at 1030 for the 1040 train to Birchington-on-Sea which arr. 1215 on time. [Others, who'd attempted the journey from London Bridge via Dartford, were horrendously delayed such that they only joined the party at Goody's Brewery much later.]
Then, having walked briskly ⅓ mile to The Square, we took bus 8A at 1238 to St. Nicholas at Wade but missed ringing for the bus to stop at The Length arr. 1233. Luckily, the driver unofficially allowed us to alight opposite Manor Road which helped to correct this oversight without time penalty. After another ⅓ mile walk, our intended swift drink at The Bell (Free - Pride) was thwarted by the pub not opening until 1.30pm on the day so we visited The Sun (GK), to partake of its extensive food menu, instead. After prompt meal service, we indulged in a post-prandial bevvy at The Bell before walking yet another ⅓ mile west to/from Wantsum Brewery and reached it soon after it opened at 2pm.
With all returning to St. Nicholas at Wade The Length (⅔ mile) no later than 3.35pm, we took bus 8A at 1539 to Sturry station arr. 1601 where we changed to bus 600 at 1607 to Herne Common arr. 1620.
After alighting from the bus, we backtracked slightly to find Goody's Brewery (⅓ mile). One member, who'd been delayed from London Bridge, even managed to hitch a ride on a returning Goody's Brewery dray to get there whilst another, likewise delayed, walked all the way from Herne Bay (2½ miles) and the maximum number of CAMAL attendees (7) was attained.
At 5.20pm, all returned promptly to the previous bus stop (⅓ mile) for the next 600 bus at 1735 to Herne arr 1738. Whilst awaiting for Butcher's Arms to open at 6pm, we'd ventured into The (almost adjacent Smuggler's Inn which disappointed, despite being a former GBG regular, having no regular real ale offerings, never mind any of Shep's microbrews!
Despite only having a seating capacity for 12 people (of which at least half were CAMAL members!), altogether 15 customers were packed into the small Butcher's Arms nano-pub for a memorable session with the owner, Martyn Hillier MBE.
Then, at 1926, we boarded bus 600 to Herne Bay arr. 1937, where we imbibed further at both 2025 GBG micropubs, Parkerville and Bouncing Barrel. Some even managed to squeeze in a visit to Cosmic Sailor, a new micropub which had only opened its doors for the first time that day!
Leaving the latter no later than 9.15pm, we managed to make the St. Pancras train at 2146 but changed at Rochester for the connecting Victoria train arr. 2321. Apart from the pair who'd not travelled from Victoria originally, all transport connections had worked well and all venues were commendably open as billed (albeit The Bell at St. Nicholas at Wade with a 1½ hour delay).
Saturday, 24th May
'Herts and Soles fording the Stort'
Noon - The Nag's Head, 216, Dunmow Road, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 5HP.
A large roadhouse, built in 1934 for Benskins of Watford, but now owned by McMullens of Hertford who sympathetically restored the building in 2010. In typical art deco style, it has flat roofs and Crittall-type wraparound metal windows with a largely-unaltered interior. Then:
1.25pm - Belgian Brewer, Unit 11, Links Business Centre, Raynham Road, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 5NZ.
From the sublime to the ridiculous(!), this trading estate brewery taproom offered selected beers on cask but, regardless, all are brewed on the premises to Belgian recipés and, consequently, at Belgian ABVs. GBG 2025. Then:
3.10pm - Beer Shop Micro, 26A, Northgate End, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2EU.
Despite no RA, this shop conversion offered not only 20 'craft' beer lines but, also, the possibility of Bubble Works Brew Co. products brewed on the premises. Then:
4.50pm - The Star, 7, Bridge Street, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2JU.
Dating from 1636 and with an unusual V-shaped bar, this pub offered good beer together with reasonably-priced food until 9pm. GBG 2025. Then:
6pm - The Castle, 38, Castle Street, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 3TG.
A well-hidden gem of a pub with two handpumps dispensed locally-sourced brews. GBG 2025.
7.20pm - The Port Jackson, Riverside Wharf, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 3GN.
A modern structure with the usual 'spoons beer range and upstairs toilets but, now, a diminished food offering.
We rendezvoused at Liverpool Street station at 1045 for the 1058 train to Bishop's Stortford, arr. 1138. As our train was 5 minutes late, we missed our intended bus but, instead, took the 323 bus towards Great Dunmow from Dane Street (Interchange Stop E) at 1150.
From The Nag's Head at 1.15pm, we continued along Dunmow Road and turned left at Raynham Road for Belgian Brewer (⅓ mile). Avoiding a 2 mile walk to the next venue, we left the latter at 2.25pm for the 7 bus at 1435 back into Bishop's Stortford (Interchange Stop E) arr. 1446 and took the 511 bus at 1450 to near our third venue where a short walk led us around the corner to it.
With The Wheatsheaf closed, leaving the latter at 4.40pm to - eventually - return to the station, we walked south to Hadham Road, turning right and then first left along North Street to our next venue, The Star (½ mile). Then, at 5.50pm, we departed to reach The Castle south via Market, Porter and South Streets, taking a right along Newtown Road to Castle Street (½ mile). Then, no later than 7.10pm, we reached The Port Jackson by returning to Newtown Road and continued across the South Street junction and along Station Road to turn left at Riverside Wharf (½ mile).
At 8.30pm, we returned to (and turned left at) Station Road for Dane Street and the station to travel via the 2039 train which arrived back in London at 2117-ish.
Sunday, 2ND March
'A West Middlesex brewery & more'
With most rendezvousing at Ealing Broadway station entrance at 1145 from Bizzie Lizzie Line trains, we walked to reach:
Noon - Questors' Grapevine Theatre Club Bar, 12, Mattock Lane, Ealing, W5 5BQ.
A volunteer-run bar that featured in a memorable episode of 'The IT Crowd', it opened an hour earlier than normally just for CAMAL.
1.15pm - The Forester, 2, Leighton Road, Northfields, W13 5BQ.
Almost unique in London in featuring (defunct) bell-pushes for waiter service in the left-hand bar, this Nowell-Parr designed edifice is a nationally-important heritage pub where some indulged in food and all in the Fuller's beer range.
A short walk south took us to:
2.35pm - Owl & Pussycat, 106, Northfield Avenue, Northfields, W13 9RT.
This long-term CAMAL supporter, where beer for both the Marko Paulo and Ealing Brewery Company concerns is brewed on the premises, a number of lagers and a stout were available from the small bar. With a variety of ciders/perries sourced from elsewhere, this was also one of our two APPFEL venues for 2025.
Most then walked via Graham Avenue/ Midhurst & Coldershaw Roads, although a few took an E3 bus and a shorter walk along Grosvenor Road, to reach:
4.20pm - The Grosvenor, 107, Oaklands Road, Hanwell, W7 2DT.
Another nationally-important structure recognised by CAMRA, the anticipated Forest Road brewery beer failed to materialise but Sunday roasts did for those who hadn't eaten earlier!
Next, sauntering west along Oaklands Avenue and north along Boston Manor Road brought us to:
5.20pm - Dodo Micropub, 52, Boston Road, Hanwell, W7 3TR.
A former shop conversion was presided over by Lucy, the eponymous owner whose doubling of her (sur)name gave the premises its name, where five changing beers from nearby or further afield were offered.
All venues (except for The Forester) were current CAMRA GBG entries.
A handful of CAMAL members then proceeded via The Fox, Green Lanes, and The Viaduct, Uxbridge Road, before dispersing, the majority via York Avenue and the Bizzie Lizzie Line from Hanwell station.