CAMRA responds to the announcement of independent review of how pubs and hotels are valued for business rates in England and Wales
Ash Corbett-Collins, CAMRA chairman, said:
“This is another promising step from the new Government. Our pubs have suffered for far too long under the current ratings system, which punishes bricks and mortar businesses, and creates the ridiculous situation where global giants pay less per square metre for warehousing than a licensee does for their pub.
“An independent review is a great way to look at this, and we will definitely be taking part on behalf of beer drinkers and pubgoers. As always, the real difference will be dependent on the results. Hopefully, there will be fundamental changes to the out-of-date ratings system and publicans will have the certainty and incentive to grow their businesses.
“We hope the right stakeholders will be involved to make sure that the best outcome is found for publicans and pubgoers.
“Ordinary drinkers want their locals open, busy and at the centre of communities. Tackling our unfair business rates system will help if the review delivers lower and fairer bills.”
Locally, Sean Clarke of Business Sheffield has been encouraging local publicans to participate in the call for evidence which seeks views from businesses, representative bodies, valuation professionals and other interested stakeholders; this will help inform recommendations to Government ahead of the next revaluation. The documentation is available on the government website and responses need to be emailed to pubsandhotelreview@hmtreasury.gov.uk by 16 October.
Picture it: you’ve just stepped out of the Sheffield Beer Museum’s latest engaging exhibit. You’re enjoying a locally made ale in its adjoining taproom, thinking about all of the interesting beer facts, history and culture you just learned about. You might tell a friend about this place and are already planning your next visit. What a fine way to spend an afternoon in the wonderful city of Sheffield.
The only problem? The museum doesn’t exist. Or at least not yet.
The Sheffield Beer Museum has now entered a public consultation phase, which means you get to help it take shape. Do you think the UK needs a beer museum? Would you visit a museum about beer? Do you think Sheffield is a good fit for such an attraction? Whether the answer to these questions is ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘not sure’, your views are vital in helping to move the project forward. For the Sheffield Beer Museum to truly be built for the community and by the community, the feedback of residents of Sheffield and beyond is fundamental.
The idea to open a beer museum in Sheffield
The Sheffield Beer Museum project began with a simple problem: a passionate collective of beer lovers wanted to visit a beer museum in the UK and realised there wasn’t one. From this initial spark came the crazy idea to do it ourselves. And many months later, that raw vision is starting to become a tangible reality.
At Sheffield Beer Museum, we think there’s more to beer than drinking. Beer is a thing to be explored, savoured, talked about and protected. It is steeped in history, from the earliest manifestations of brewing among ancient civilisations, all the way to your local micropub doing things with beer you didn’t think were possible, or necessary, but somehow are. It is as much a part of our culture as fish and chips, Morris dancing and queuing, and we think that deserves to be celebrated.
Getting involved
At this year’s Steel City 50 Beer & Cider Festival, be sure to come and find the Sheffield Beer Museum stall, where you can find out more about the project and get to know the team. Whether you’ve got a burning question, a brilliant idea, a crazy story about beer or simply want to drop by for a beer and a chat, we want to hear from you!
If you’re not going to make the festival this year, don’t panic! You’ll find plenty of other ways to get in touch below.
In the meantime, watch this space. Spread the word. Something is brewing in Sheffield, and we want you on board. Fill in our survey and join the mailing list.
The status quo needs to go: Beer and pub campaigners want Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the UK beer market
A new report, published today by CAMRA, shows how independent brewers are being excluded from bars across the UK, and sets out the case for the Competition and Markets Authority action.
‘Beer in the UK’ is the authoritative consumer view on how the UK beer scene actually works, or doesn’t work, for beer drinkers and independent brewers.
The report lays bare the stark state of British brewing – that it is dominated by four international conglomerates with little affinity with our brewing heritage, or what beer drinkers want.
Other headlines from the report include:
• Seven of the top ten selling ‘craft beers’ in the UK are made by just four global brewing conglomerates.
• Many of the UK’s favourite ‘continental’ and ‘import’ lagers are brewed in the UK.
• Data from the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) shows that the demand for independent beer is 280% higher than the share that they have of the pub market.
Ash Corbett-Collins, CAMRA Chairman said:
“Ordinary drinkers are being short changed when it comes to choice and quality at the bar. Our report proves how the global players are exploiting the status quo to squeeze out independent brewers, to the detriment of ordinary publicans and beer drinkers.
“The Government needs to step up, start taking the issue seriously, and take action that matches up to their statements about supporting pubs and the communities they serve.
“Andy Burnham recently said that ‘People need to be able to look forward to a night out’. The best way he can deliver on that is by ordering a proper market investigation to sort this mess out and deliver a fair deal for publicans and drinkers, and the independent brewers that they want to support.
“If this report makes you as angry as it makes me, that’s good. CAMRA is fighting for changes to the status quo, and I hope you’ll join us and get involved.”
Tim Webb, Report Editor, said:
“The fact that a narrow clique of multinational corporations dominates the UK brewing industry is a national embarrassment. They only make beers that suit their production facilities, ignoring the types that beer lovers want to drink. They do not know how to reverse beer’s downward spiral, make little profit, and brew nothing worth exporting. They cannot grow the UK economy.
“The way that better, independent, brewers are excluded from the on-trade beer market is scandalous. Brewing is a business that competition authorities need to investigate, take apart, and reassemble, so the UK can return to playing a leading role in the world of beer.”
There are tens of thousands of pubs across the country serving cask beers, and many of those serve really good pints.
For lovers of a decent pint, it’s important to be able to find them. CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide has been the ‘bible’ for finding the very best ones since 1974 and continues to be relied upon by tens of thousands of people.
CAMRA’s online pub guide camra.org.uk/pubs can also help because beer quality is indicated by the ‘3 Pints’ symbols that CAMRA members can see when logged in.
Pubs and clubs that serve really excellent pints, and serve them consistently well, can be potential candidates for the Good Beer Guide.
To help identify them, CAMRA members score their pints whenever they have the opportunity. Their scores help local branches determine candidates for the Guide, and these can change year on year because the standards are high. Serving live cask beer requires skill in the cellar and attention by bar staff all the time. Competition for a place is stiff because only 4,500 places are available.
Up until now, the scoring system has used a numbering system of 0 to 5. But there are problems with this. It requires memorising the criteria for each score and using them consistently, but memories can be variable. Some people genuinely struggle with numbers, so they don’t take part. It becomes open to individual interpretation with resulting inconsistency between scorers. There’s also the potential for individual bias and a reluctance to ‘award’ high scores.
We all know when we are drinking a good pint that’s been well-kept, and we also know when a pint is very good or excellent – who cannot resist telling everyone else about it! And likewise, a pint that is simply OK or, hopefully not often, undrinkable.
So, to make things easier for everyone, a new intuitive ratings system is being introduced, which is more descriptive of the beer being drunk.
Each of the new ratings has a description and a likely reaction to help you pin down the most appropriate rating.
Ratings can be recorded on CAMRA’s online pub guide camra.org.uk/pubs by all CAMRA members so start rating your beer now.
Previously known as the Heritage Award, part of CAMRA’s annual Pub Saving Award, it is now a standalone competition, aiming to promote and preserve historic pub buildings, while recognising and rewarding those who run them.
The award will go to a pub or pub operator showcasing activity which has reinvigorated it, while benefiting the business and having a positive impact on its local community.
The winner will be announced during Heritage Open Days, a week of free events across the country, celebrating heritage and history between 11-20 September. Similar events will also be taking place across Scotland and Wales.
Previous winners of the former Heritage Award include the Drewe Arms in Drewsteignton, Devon, a 17th century inn which has remained unchanged for 100 years, and the Vine in Pittshill, Stoke-on-Trent, a Grade II listed back-street Victorian local.
CAMRA’s 40th National Breweriana Auction; Saturday 24th October 2026
Have you ever fancied owning a slice of brewing history? Then this Auction is just the thing for you. Run by the Campaign for Real Ale, the National Breweriana Auction returns to Burton on Trent’s Town Hall on Saturday 24th October but sadly, after 40 events, this will be the very last national one so don’t miss it!
It will have circa 150 interesting auction lots; everything from mirrors to trays; advertising signs, water jugs, flagons, bottles, books and pump clips as well as a few more unusual items. Plus there will be a number of stands selling brewery memorabilia adding to the atmosphere in this wonderful Victorian venue.
There are all sorts of items from all over the country to decorate your home. What about a flagon from Wadworths? Wadworths is based in Devizes, Wiltshire. They were founded in 1875 and remarkably are still owned and run by the descendants of John Smith Bartholomew, the co-founder of the brewery.
Or what about a limited-edition commemorative Millennium Ale set comprising of an unopened bottle, glass and bottle opener in a lovely metal container. This is from Mansfield Brewery, who first started brewing in 1855 in North Nottinghamshire, taken over by Wolverhampton and Dudley in 1999 and closed in 2002. Wolverhampton & Dudley then took over Marston’s and adopted that name. Sadly, following acquisition by Carlsberg, the Wolverhampton Brewery was closed in 2026.
There are numerous items that you can either use, or more likely display. What about a tray from Bass and there are a number of lots from Worthington including an ashtray (well used!), a match holder and the famous Worthington Mayor jug. And straddling the two brewers is a trio of leaflets listing their bottlers . These two Burton on Trent breweries were founded in the mid/late 1700’s with Worthington 16 years older. By the late 1800’s, Bass was the biggest brewery in the world and merged with Worthington in 1927. Bass sold the brand to Coors (now Molson Coors) in 2002. Maybe their best known brand was Worthington White Shield; an iconic British style IPA, which ceased production in 2023 but you can still purchase it in Norway and the Netherlands! Included in the lots is an unusual display card advising customers to order their last bottle at last orders ‘to allow for the care necessary in pouring the last rush of orders for Worthington White Shield”.
And the Auction wouldn’t be the Auction without a Guinness item or two. This year we have a mug and a display stand among the lots.
These are just a few of the items on sale, each with a history to tell. You don’t have to be an expert to attend the National Breweriana Auction. The Auction is great fun to take part in (or even just to watch) and it’s an opportunity to get some great bargains plus many of the items on sale can appreciate in value. And, of course, like any CAMRA event, there is some good beer on sale all day (from a local brewery).
Burton on Trent is less than an hour by train from Sheffield and the Town Hall is just a short walk from the railway station. The event starts at 10.30am with the opportunity to view the lots and browse the breweriana stands that will also be there. Bidding starts at noon and is normally finished by 3pm, giving a chance to have a final perusal of the stands before visiting some of Burton’s iconic pubs and heading home.
Thanks to Micropub Adventures (Scott Sinclair) and Sheffield with Pubs (Niall Green), for joining several of us on a recent guided Pub Heritage walk. We took the Neepsend route (as in our walk-booklet) before going, via the New Barrack, into Hillsborough. The booklet is available from our website with paper copies obtainable at several local outlets.
We were very impressed by both the range and quality of the available beers, but also, by the many bar-staff we encounted – polite, professional and enthusiastic: an excellent advertisement for the city. Thanks for looking after us.
Neepsend pubs visited were: Church – Temple of Fun, The Old Workshop, Alder, Forest, Heist Brew Co. and the Gardeners Rest. We also passed the ruins of both Stones Cannon and Deardens High House Breweries. In addition, I played bar billiards for the first time in about twenty years, and managed to rack up over 1000 points. In all, an excellent afternoon.
Sheffield City Council have ruled regarding the recent retrospective planning application (25/030409/FUL) for the Royal Standard: Refuse with Enforcement Action.
‘The Local Planning Authority (LPA) consider that the impact of the works, principally the introduction of inappropriate windows and works to the entrance including the loss of historic fabric have a detrimental impact on the character and architectural and cultural heritage of the building which is a non-designated heritage asset. No clear justification for alterations has been put forward. The building could have been brought back into use in a manner that respected the character and history of the building. It is considered that the proposal is unacceptable and harms the character of the building itself and the immediate locality being contrary to paragraph 135 and 216 of the NPPF and policies BE5 and IB9 of the Unitary Development Plan and Policy CS74 of the Core Strategy.’
The current owners of the building made many alterations to this 19th century public house, without obtaining planning permission. Their retrospective planning application has been refused.
The Planning Officers Report states that: ‘It is therefore expedient to require removal of unauthorised works with a remedial scheme to be provided by the developer and agreed with the Local Planning Authority to reinstate the original building fabric.’
Abbeydale Brewery‘s Black Mass (a black IPA at 6.66% ABV) made it as a finalist in the “Barley Wines & Strong Ales” category of the Champion Beer of Britain awards. The winter ales categories were judged at Liverpool beer festival.
To reach the competition’s final in Liverpool all the beers had progressed through a year of local and regional blind judging heats.
The winner was London Brewing‘s Beer Street. Judges were blown away by this winner, with judging panel coordinator Christine Cryne describing Beer Street (4.0%) as: “A sparkling golden amber bitter, with spicy rye and a roasty nose, sweet biscuit on the flavour, where the spicy rye notes increase and linger in the dry and slightly bitter finish. Very easy drinking.”
Taking the Silver award was Cairngorm, Black Gold, 4.4%. A black session stout with red hues and oyster head. Aromas of black treacle and faint hits of dark fruits. Caramelised fruits on a sweetish chocolate base with some plums create a moreish stout. The dry finish is slightly sweet with some spicy notes.
The Bronze winner was Green Jack, Baltic Trader Export Stout, 10.5%. A dark ruby brown imperial stout, with aromas of sweet black treacle with some damsons. A rich smooth mouthfeel with bitter black chocolate, sweet molasses and damsons. The finish is sweet, smooth with bitter roasty notes remaining. Very warming.
The category winners now go forward to the final judging in May at CAMRA’s Cambridge Beer Festival where they’ll battle it out to take the crown of Supreme Champion 2026.
Reacting to the win, Director of London Brewing Senan Sexton said: “We’re absolutely delighted that our best bitter, Beer Street, has been named Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2026 by CAMRA. We’ve been brewing Beer Street since we founded the brewery in 2011, and it’s a real testament to the skill and dedication of our head brewer, Alex, that he has continued to refine and elevate the recipe over the years.
“This accolade means a tremendous amount to a brewery of our size. It’s not only a proud moment for our team, but also a fantastic boost that celebrates the enduring appeal of high-quality cask ales enjoyed in pubs across the UK.”
CAMRA’s Awards Director, Shelly Bentley, said: “Our Champion Beer of Britain competition is the only truly independent beer contest in the UK. Brewers can’t simply enter their beers into it; they have to be nominated by beer lovers or expert tasting panels.
“London Brewing are incredibly deserving winners of the winter crown, and everyone taking home a category win or top three placement should be proud that their beers have been declared the cream of the crop by expert judges.”
The Cannon Brewery site in Neepsend, the original home of Stones Bitter, is currently under regeneration. The brewery closed, almost thirty years ago, in 1999, when Bass acquired their Burton-on-Trent neighbour, Ind Coope, and decided that their Sheffield Brewery was surplus to requirements.
The Cannon Brewery was named in 1868 by William Stones (1826-1894) and purchased by Bass Charrington in 1968. William started brewing in 1847 with Joseph Watts. Following Watts’ death in 1854, Stones continued. In 1868 he bought the lease of the brewery of Shepherd, Green & Hatfield (the Neepsend Brewery), renamed it the Cannon Brewery and continued to brew there until his death. Shortly afterwards, the company was registered as William Stones Ltd. This success saw him become one of the richest men in Sheffield.
Stones Bitter was introduced by Head Brewer, Edward “Ted” Collins in 1948. It was popular with Sheffield’s steel workers and was originally available across South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. Increasing demand saw the beer brewed at other Bass breweries from the 1970s onwards. Distribution was extended to the rest of the north of England in 1977, and accompanied by a considerable marketing push, nationwide from 1979.
The beer’s popularity reached its peak in 1992 when it was the country’s highest selling bitter, selling over a million barrels. In 1994-96, the “Sheffield Gold” campaign was set in a steel foundry: it was filmed in the Czech Republic because Sheffield’s own foundries were considered to be too clean and automated for the desired gritty, industrial effect. The beer has been lauded as “one of Sheffield’s most famous exports.”
At closure, the site consisted of buildings of differing ages, character and size clustered round a large triangular internal courtyard. Little of the original Victorian and Edwardian buildings remained: the water tower and some internal features. In August 2024, Capital & Centric obtained hybrid planning permission. Their outline plans included the repurposing of several buildings, new builds of cultural and workspaces and over 500 homes, a new public square and an urban park. Subsequent investigation has shown the grain store to be in a critical state of disrepair: Regent Street Disease, corrosion of the steel frame within a masonry-clad building, is prevalent. There is also cracking of concrete on the façade and deterioration of the roof slab.
Demolition is now in progress: the end of a significant chapter in the history of brewing in Sheffield.
The planned redevelopment, with support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, will see further growth of the community living around Kelham Island and Neepsend.
