Western Sussex CAMRA

The Maypole, Yapton, is running another beer festival, from Friday October 28 to Sunday October 30.

As well as the seven handpumps on the bar (with the three regular beers replaced by guests when they run out) there should be an additional 20 beers on stillage in the skittle alley. Hopefully we’ll be able to get the beer list in advance.

Edit: There’s going to be live music on Friday and Saturday night from Redefined, who play covers from the 60s onwards.

Please note that this is not a CAMRA-run event.

Oops! What with setting this site up, and trying to get the maps working properly (soon, soon…) I forgot to mention the Worthing and Eastbourne beer festivals! Both are open on October 7 and 8, with Eastbourne also opening on October 6.

Worthing’s festival is in the Richmond Rooms, Stoke Abbott Road, and has 45 beers plus ciders. Friday is split into lunchtime (11:30–3) and evening (5–11) sessions, while Saturday opening is from 11-10, assuming the beer lasts that long of course! More details of the Worthing beer festival are available for download as a PDF. Tickets are available from the Selden Arms in Worthing, or the Evening Star in Brighton — or by post, but you’re probably cutting it a bit fine there. Perfect excuse to go out for a few beers, though.

Eastbourne boasts over 120 beers, plus ciders, perries, bottled beer, and a wine bar. On Thursday, they’re open from 6–11. Friday is 5:30–11, while Saturday is split into two sessions: 11–4 and 6–11. Mind you don’t fall off the cliffs afterwards.

Eastbourne has a whole website with more details, including booking info — unless you’re in Eastbourne and passing by the Congress Theatre box office, telephone booking looks like the best option.

Fuller’s and Young’s are both running what they bill as “autumn beer festivals” — what most of the rest of us would refer to as a series of special beers. That’s marketing departments for you.

The Fuller’s range is allegedly available at the Red Lion, Fernhurst, although the Fullers website doesn’t seem to think so. The Star in Petworth and the White Horse in Pulborough are listed, though. The range is Red Fox, then Mr Harry, then Trafalgar Ale. They started on September 5, so you’ll have to hurry to catch the Red Fox, as Mr Harry should be due on about now. Trafalgar Ale is expected in mid-October. I’d link to the page on the Fuller’s site, but they’ve designed it so you can only link to the front page. So you’ll have to go to the Fuller’s home page instead. (Update: yes, the Red Lion is doing the seasonals. Not cheap, though — Red Fox was £2.90! And it was on the website — under Surrey!)

Young’s are doing Ram Rod, Special London Ale (normally only available bottle-conditioned), Old Nick, and finally Burton Ale, which hasn’t been brewed for many a year. The Ram Rod and Special London have been and gone at the Waverley, but Old Nick is expected to pop up in the next couple of days. More details on the range, plus a list of participating pubs, on the Young’s beer festival page. (To save you some time, both the Waverley and the Sussex Brewery are taking part.)

Duke of Cumberland Arms, Henley, at 8:45
King’s Arms, Midhurst Road, Fernhurst
Red Lion, The Green, Fernhurst

(We may visit the Red Lion before the King’s Arms)

George & Dragon, 51 North Street, at 8:15
Bell, 3 Broyle Road
Four Chesnuts, 234 Oving Road

(Some of us will be meeting first at the Crown, 140 Whyke Road, at 8:15)

Barley Mow, Breakneck Lane, Walderton, at 8:45
Hare & Hounds, Stoughton
then either Coach & Horses, The Square, Compton or Horse & Groom, East Ashling.

Lamb, Chichester Road, West Wittering, at 8:45
Ship, The Street, Itchenor
Blacksmith’s Arms, Selsey Road, Donnington.

Jolly Drover, London Road, Hill Brow, at 8:45
Keeper’s Arms, Trotton
then one of Three Horseshoes, Elsted, White Horse, East Street, Rogate, Ship, The Square, South Harting, or Country Inn, Severals Road, Bepton.

Formal meeting, Maypole, Yapton, at 8:45.

Welcome to the website of the Western Sussex branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). Our branch area covers the western area of West Sussex, including Midhurst, Chichester and Bognor Regis. We also run a beer festival each May in Yapton Village Hall.

Details of our branch’s social events — and other events of interest — will appear on the calendar to the right.