ABOUT CAMRA

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale is an independent, voluntary organisation once (Dec 2019) with 192,289 members campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights. Down (Dec 2024) to a seven-year low of 146,5708 possibly due to the pandemic without beer festivals for renewals/new members.. But it could be that now members have been deprived of a monthly What’s Brewing paper and can only view information online that they find it no longer value for money? CAMRA acts as the champion for beer drinkers and pub-goers on issues ranging from protecting pubs from closing down, keeping the lid on the price of a pint and ensuring there is fair competition in the beer and pubs market. CAMRA supports well-run pubs as the centres of community life and believe their continued existence play a critical social role in UK culture.

NEWS

We are pleased to announce the following ELAC branch awards for 2026 - East London & City Pub of the Year - The Cock Tavern, 315 Mare St, London E8 1EJ. Pub of the Year and Cider Pub of the Year awards were presented by James Watson to Joel Wood of The Cock East London & City Cider Pub of the Year - The Cock Tavern, 315 Mare St, London E8 1EJ East London & City Club of the Year - Leyton Orient Supporters Club, Oliver Road, London E10 5LG These winners will go forward as our entries in the respective CAMRA Greater London competitions. Congratulations to The Cock Tavern for achieving the double of both Pub of the Year and Cider Pub of the Year. This is the first time that this has happened in the time that the current committee members have been active in the branch. Many thanks to everyone that took part in the process, whether by nominating pubs or ranking the finalists. Dates for the presentations will be arranged in due course. Our branch was 50 years old in 2024. Back in the day (1980-1989) the branch produced a local newsletter named unsurprisingly enough, Pigs Ear. Here is the Nov/Dec 1981 edition. One from Feb 85. But before that Bas Clarke produced the East London Newsletter. Here is the first volume from December 1976, Volume 3 and Volume 6. Volume 7 , Volume 10, Volume 13 , Volume 14 , Volume 15 , Volume 17, Volume 18 , Volume 19 and Volume 20.

Photograph a pub.

What do the following pub/bars have in common?, Bistrotheque, 23–27 Wadeson Street, E2 9DR, Gantry ,40 Celebration Avenue, E20 1DB, Bourbon, 387 Roman Road E3 5QR, 40ft Brewery Tap Bootyard, Abbott Street E8 3DP, Beer Merchants Tap, 99 Wallis Road E9 5LN. None have a picture on Whatpub. If you can help please send us your photograph. A list of all the pubs is here. A map with all the pubs plotted on them is here. Brewery History Society Website. The latest London Drinker is available here. CAMRA London Pubs Guide. London Beer & Pub Guide.

Beer Barrels and Brewhouses Publication on

forgotten East End breweries. See here. PDF

here.

Do you know of any clubs not on this list?

Branch events

The Epping Ongar Railway (EOR) 2026 beer festival is scheduled to take place 24 to 26 July. This is a joint EOR / CAMRA event. Help is still needed to organise and set up the festival. If you can help us out email us. Tuesday May 5th . 7:30pm First Pigs Ear 2026 Planning meeting, Olde Rose & Crown, 53-55 Hoe Street, E17 4SA Thursday May 7th. 6pm Social Leyton Orient Supporters Club, Oliver Road, E10 5NF. Ale night - doors open 4pm and close 10pm. Sat 9 May 2pm The European , 557-559 Lea Bridge Road, E10 7EQ. Social at the pubs Beer festival. Food available. Music at 4pm European, 557- 559 Lea Bridge Road. CAMRA EAST LONDON & CITY (ELAC) BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The 2026 ELAC Annual General Meeting will be held at Leyton Orient Supporters Club, Betwright Stadium, Oliver Road, Leyton, E10 5NF on Wednesday 13th May starting at 8.00pm. All members are most welcome to attend. The agenda is attached. The branch committee posts are listed below. While all posts are the subject of an election process at the AGM, the Cider Officer role is currently vacant. We are looking for members that might be interested in volunteering to stand for this post at the AGM. A description of the role is provided below. If you are interested in this post or want more information then please email the branch. We have five Branch Meetings and one AGM every year, for which committee members should provide updates either in person or by written submission. Branch Committee Posts Chair Deputy Chair Secretary Treasurer Beer Festival Organiser Publicity Pubs WhatPub Co-Ordinator National Beer Scoring System Pub Protection Social Membership Wetherspoons Cider Webmaster Cider Officer Role Description The Cider Officer will monitor producers and pubs in the branch area that make and sell real cider and perry. They will need to be familiar with the CAMRA definition of real cider and perry which is 'Cider or perry fermented from the whole juice of fresh pressed apples or pears, without the use of concentrated or chapitalised juices.' They will advise the branch committee on cider and perry matters, including the Cider Pub of the Year selection process. Anyone wishing to make social pub visits or any suggestions or give feedback is welcome to email James Skinner our Social Secretary.

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A cheque for the mayor’s charity being presented from monies raised at last years beer festival. Over £1250 was raised.

Pub of the Year and Cider Pub of the Year awards were presented last night by James Watson to Joel Wood of The Cock.