Summer of Pub is CAMRA’s summer-long campaign to promote pub and club-going, highlight the social and cultural importance of the UK’s pubs and social clubs. It launched in May and runs to September, when the 2024 edition of the Good Beer Guide is published.
It’s been a tough winter for the licensed trade with energy and business costs skyrocketing, so we feel now it is especially important to encourage you to get out and enjoy our great pubs and clubs this summer!
Summer of Pub kicked off on the second May bank holiday which didn’t exactly see great weather but it was the weekend of King Charles III’s Coronation. Pubs played a big role in facilitating communities getting together for “a bit of a do” whether that involved bunting, entertainment and showing the cermony on TV or providing an alternative event for those who weren’t interested – such as the Dog & Partridge who instead of a Coronation party ran a fundraiser for the Shelter homeless charity and a collection for the S6 food bank.
There are various pub based events coming up over the summer including beer and music festivals, organisers are invited to submit their events for national listing online at camra.org.uk/pubs-and-clubs/current-campaigns/summer-of-pub/ (or you can find our own festival guide here)
Of course, as the weather turns warm and dry for the summer (well occasionally, this is England after all!) thoughts turn to outdoor drinking and we have some great options in our area. You don’t even need to head out to a country pub – we have waterside options at places like Dorothy Pax, Riverside Kelham and Gardeners Rest, hidden away City Centre beer gardens and patios at pubs like the Washington or University Arms and suburban pubs offering a great view over the city such as the Brothers Arms. Meanwhile head to an area like Kelham Island where you can do a crawl of urban beer gardens and yards at pubs like Shakespeares Ale & Cider House, West Bar Tap, Kelham Island Tavern, Fat Cat, Wellington, Crow Inn, Grafters Bar, Millowners Arms, Happy’s Bar, Alder and more!
If the weather does prove to be a bit more British and wet this summer then of course pubs are indoors and provide a great place to get together with friends, enjoy a nice beer and maybe a bite to eat! Alternatively if you are on your own and bored head to a pub with entertainment such as live music!
