A very well-attended branch event was held on 11th June, when we had the pleasure of awarding the 2015 branch Pub of the Year runner-up award to the Cask Pub & Kitchen in Pimlico. The photo shows our chairman Les Maggs (centre) with General Manager Peter Slezak to his left and Senior Assistant Manager Mike Yates holding the award certificate. The group shot of some of the branch present includes our Treasurer Paul Gray at left and Social Secretary Alasdair Boyd to the right, both holding their pints! A very enjoyable evening was had by all.

The branch visited: The Green Man (Edgware Road); The Royal Exchange (Sale Place), The Alexander Fleming (Bouverie Place) and The Mad Bishop and Bear at Paddington Station. The Mad Bishop photo shows (left to right) Paul Gray our Treasurer, complete with buttonhole rose for St. George's Day! Peter Chutter, our Pubs Officer; Dominic Pinto; and Les Maggs our Chairman. The photo in the Alexander Fleming shows Paul, Peter, and Les all in typical pose! Our thanks to Paul Williams, unseen behind his camera in both photos. An enjoyable evening was had by all. The branch is back again at the Mad Bishop on Thursday 18th June for their very well-deserved branch Pub of the Year award.

The West London branch Pub of the Year was a closely-run contest this year but the Mad Bishop & Bear at Paddington Station just won through against stiff competition! This Fuller’s pub is a regular entry in the Good Beer Guide and the award caps a great year for General Manager Helen Wilson, who received the prestigious Fuller’s Master Cellarman of the Year award in 2014. The pub, on the top level of the station, normally has four Fuller’s ales plus four guests. The branch award will be presented at a ceremony from 7.30 on Thursday 11th June.

Running a close second was the Cask Pub & Kitchen in Pimlico, another regular in the Good Beer Guide and now runner-up in the branch Pub of the Year competition for three years running! The pub has become a destination real ale pub and boasts normally ten real ales, around fifteen keg beers and 300-plus bottled beers from around the world! The branch award will be presented at a ceremony from 7.30 on Thursday 18th June.

Third place went to the Lyric in Soho, a small but very popular pub just off Shaftesbury Avenue. Eight changing real ales are supplemented by a good range of craft beers. The branch award will be presented at a ceremony from 7.30 on Tuesday 2nd July.

A Monday evening, just the quiet time for a presentation of Camra West London's award of Pub of the Year 2014 certificate? But this is the Harp, near Charing Cross and in the heart of central London. Here, few weekday evenings are anything other than packed with regulars four deep at the bar in one of the capital's smallest and thriving real ale pubs.

The already busy bar, with a full complement of staff (some working and on their day off), locals and office workers saw CAMRA members from a variety of branches gathering. As 8pm approached the anticipation grew. A call to order was followed by a short lull, and then the incomparable Binnie Walsh, licensee, appeared down the stairs and, stopping to chat to customers as she went, slowly made her way to the end of the bar.

In her typical understated fashion, Binnie tried to insist that it was only the staff, with Sarah, Karl, Sally and the others, who were the team underpinning everything that deserved the recognition. West London Branch Chairman, Les Maggs, said it all in a few words. A well-deserved award (and a joint first - without precedent in West London) of Pub of the Year 2014 raised a loud cheer, and an acknowledgment that it was Binnie's leadership, management style and approach in more than 45 years in the trade that put her stamp on her pubs, not least the last 20 years at the Harp.

As she proudly displayed the framed certificate to her customers and staff, they may have reflected that the Harp was both exceptional and unexceptional - each pub that Binnie has run has been individual, and all have reflected her ethos and concentration on quality, whether of keg or real beers, wines or food, staff and staff training, and exemplary service to customers.

A buffet of home-made pork treats from Pig and Hay (@Pig_and_Hay) awaited in the upstairs quieter room. Complemented by the excellent range of ales the whole company celebrated this further confirmation that people in London - local residents, workers, and visitors as well as the members of CAMRA - know and welcome the very best of traditional pubs. The Harp goes forward to be considered as Greater London Pub of the Year - with all our best wishes and support. In 2012, the Harp was judged CAMRA National Pub of the Year. Will history repeat itself?

A good turnout from the West London branch came to the Cask Pub & Kitchen, Pimlico on 27 May, for the 3rd place presentation of the Pub of the Year certificate. The pub has won awards from the branch in previous years and Les Maggs, chairman, made the point that the branch has 860 pubs in its area and to get into the top three is a magnificent achievement! The pub under its present ownership has become a destination pub for real ale lovers and has ten handpumps plus a range of craft beers including some unusual German, Belgian and American ones, plus a vast range of bottled beers, and some excellent food.

A very good turnout of West London branch members and pub regulars gathered on 23 April to celebrate both St. George’s Day and, more importantly, the presentation to the Cleveland Arms of their branch Pub of the Year first-place-equal winner’s certificate. The photo shows landlord John King (left) receiving the certificate from branch chairman Les Maggs. This award was the culmination of many years hard work by John and his team to turn the pub into a real ale gem; previously the Cleveland had won runner-up certificates but never until now the first prize. Les also thanked John for his help to CAMRA over the years and in particular for allowing his pub to be used as our main London Drinker magazine depot. Sadly, this night also coincided with John’s last night as landlord after ten years at the pub, which is now closing for a period.

Awards to the other first-place winner (the Harp, Covent Garden) and to third-place winner the Cask Pub & Kitchen, Pimlico, will be made later this year.

Three of London's popular pubs hit West London CAMRA's radar in the last month when branch members votes for Pub of the Year were counted and confirmed.

In as wide an area as West London, stretching from Holborn and Covent Garden to the outer reaches of Chiswick and Kew Bridge, there is no shortage of good if not excellent pubs to be considered with over five hundred known to serve real ale.

Of the six finalists (in alphabetical order Cask Pub & Kitchen, 6 Charlwood Street, SW1; Cleveland Arms, 28 Chilworth Street, W2; Harp, 47 Chandos Place, WC2; Queens Arms, 30 Queens Gate Mews, SW7; Star Tavern, 6 Belgrave Mews West, SW1; and Uxbridge Arms, 13 Uxbridge Street, W8) it was always going to be a difficult choice.

All are gems in their own distinctive way. A good selection of quality real ales are assured, naturally, and the friendly welcome of good local pubs. With refreshment then, good company, and however small or large the pub, and however basic or elaborate, there'll be conviviality, and nibbles if not something a bit more substantial.

First equal were the Cleveland Arms in Paddington, a 1852 Grade II-listed pub with its tiled ends, and the Harp, Charing Cross, a small friendly local dating from at least the late 18th century. Coming in 3rd is a previous year's winner, the Cask Pub and Kitchen in Pimlico a real ale destination pub for office workers and visitors from around the world.

The Cleveland Arms was sold shortly after the branch announced these results, and in view of this development the Harp now goes forward as the West London nomination for Greater London's Pub of the Year.

Later this summer will see certificates presented to the respective licensees, and we'll no doubt be looking forward to helping them celebrate together with their regulars and staff.

On a warm, almost summery, late June evening Pimlico's Cask Pub and Kitchen was alive and buzzy with a mainly young crowd of eclectic drinkers including CAMRA West London branch members. With a fine display of ten cask ales on hand pump and surrounded by appreciative members and customers, branch chair Les Maggs presented manager Steve Gray with the well-deserved certificate to add to the pub's roll of honour. Steve could barely restrain his enthusiasm, and a wide grin of delight broke through as he showed the certificate to the wider world!

West London CAMRA branch members visited the Wetherspoons located on the concourse of Victoria Station for the purposes of inspecting the pub in the wake of its recent refurbishment. The Victoria 'Spoons pub is probably unique among pubs for not having a name other than the name of the Wetherspoons pub chain.

Although the exterior of the pub looks pretty much like a railway platform, inside, the visitor will find a typical cosy pub interior, complete with a lovely wooden bar and comfy seating.

A Monday evening, just the quiet time for a presentation of Camra West London's award of Pub of the Year 2014 certificate? But this is the Harp, near Charing Cross and in the heart of central London. Here, few weekday evenings are anything other than packed with regulars four deep at the bar in one of the capital's smallest and thriving real ale pubs.

The already busy bar, with a full complement of staff (some working and on their day off), locals and office workers saw CAMRA members from a variety of branches gathering. As 8pm approached the anticipation grew. A call to order was followed by a short lull, and then the incomparable Binnie Walsh, licensee, appeared down the stairs and, stopping to chat to customers as she went, slowly made her way to the end of the bar.

In her typical understated fashion, Binnie tried to insist that it was only the staff, with Sarah, Karl, Sally and the others, who were the team underpinning everything that deserved the recognition. West London Branch Chairman, Les Maggs, said it all in a few words. A well-deserved award (and a joint first - without precedent in West London) of Pub of the Year 2014 raised a loud cheer, and an acknowledgment that it was Binnie's leadership, management style and approach in more than 45 years in the trade that put her stamp on her pubs, not least the last 20 years at the Harp.

As she proudly displayed the framed certificate to her customers and staff, they may have reflected that the Harp was both exceptional and unexceptional - each pub that Binnie has run has been individual, and all have reflected her ethos and concentration on quality, whether of keg or real beers, wines or food, staff and staff training, and exemplary service to customers.

A buffet of home-made pork treats from Pig and Hay (@Pig_and_Hay) awaited in the upstairs quieter room. Complemented by the excellent range of ales the whole company celebrated this further confirmation that people in London - local residents, workers, and visitors as well as the members of CAMRA - know and welcome the very best of traditional pubs. The Harp goes forward to be considered as Greater London Pub of the Year - with all our best wishes and support. In 2012, the Harp was judged CAMRA National Pub of the Year. Will history repeat itself?

The Malt House, Fulham, will be hosting a 3 day beer festival from Friday August 22nd - Monday August 25th. Visit their website for more details.

It's just twelve days to the Orpington Liberal Club Beer and Cider Festival.

Don't forget, booking is essential, all entry tickets must be purchased by Wednesday, 20 August. While an entry ticket costs £5.40 (over the bar) or £5.80 (online from here) it includes your first two pints (or one pint and food).

The full beer, cider and perry listing is attached.

There are stunning beers from both local brewers and further afield.

All real ale, real cider and real perry is just £2.70 a pint.

Both days feature:

Barbecue of the now legendary Castle Farm at the Hop Shop three week hung beef burgers from free roaming cattle, plus Pork and Kentish Hop Sausages.

Live Folk on Friday and Folk 'n' Blues on Saturday.

£3 deposit for festival glass on arrival, which you can either keep or cash in.

A good time was had by all at the Kensington social held on 16th July.

The photo shows, left to right: Peter Chutter, Paul Young, Paul Williams, chairman Les Maggs, and Paul Gray. It was taken in The Greyhound on Young Street, Kensington (a Taylor Walker pub, with CAMRA discounts). It was the 2nd pub on the crawl. The food and beer were rated very good! Photographer Paul Williams is shown at the end of the table proudly using his new camera which allows him to control it through his 'phone via wi-fi.

Not so long ago, the future looked grim for Soho’s Lyric Tavern, boarded up and showcased on BBC London, a poster child for Ghost Town Britain. Today, this beautiful Victorian gem has earned itself third place in the West London Campaign for Real Ale branch Pub of the Year competition.

A hot and busy evening and the smart young crowd are gathering to their watering holes en masse in London's West End. This being Thursday, and in Soho, the weekend had clearly already started for many. Locals from CAMRA West London branch had a chance to appreciate a good selection of Local beers and to award the well-earned certificate.

In the last two years the Lyric has been reborn and now serves an impressive range of beers in an attractive Victorian corner pub setting.

Chairman Les Maggs and branch members repaired with Chris to the entrance on Great Windmill Street. After a few words of appreciation, Les presented the award.

This was not the first time that the Lyric had received a richly deserved recognition. More than 20 years ago, the Soho Society said of its 1992 Pub of the Year:

"Well, we thought this year that the Lyric Tavern of Great Windmill Street ought to have the limelight…"

Having bucked the trend of so many pubs that have been boarded up, the Lyric is a vibrant tavern in the middle of Soho.

Assert Your Beer Drinking Independence with the White Horse on Parson’s Green’s eighth American Beer Festival from July 2nd-5th 2015.

This summer, The White Horse on Parsons Green continues in its transatlantic ways by importing some of the most exciting and innovative products from America. Year on year we aim to please the masses with a carefully selected list of beers aimed at surprising the palate, pleasing the nose and thrilling the tastebuds.

This weekend of Craft-brewery beer should encourage more people to think outside the box with their beer choices in the future. Big beers from small breweries is not a new thing to the UK market, but with more people banging down the doors demanding interesting, rare and original products we feel obliged to show them the way. A fun packed weekend is planned and ready for all to enjoy and we invite you to join us from July 2nd.

We have had the best beers shipped over from the USA including Goose Island bourbon county stout on keg, a first for the UK. We are also featuring breweries such as, Firestone Walker, Cigar City Brewing, Prairie Artisan Ales, Stone Brewing and many more to tantalise your tastebuds.

This year, we’re focusing on the growing trend of ‘Sessionable’ beers, such as the lower strength IPAs that are becoming so popular, as people want to experience the flavour and hoppiness of these beers, but without the usual accompanying alcohol strength.

Not only that, we have live music throughout the weekend from ‘Jimmy C and the Blues Dragons’ and ‘Eddie and the Wild Dice’. Our American style BBQ will be keeping you filled up with delicious grilled treats all weekend too.

Simply unmissable!

Paddington Station (and not a bear in sight) as commuters thronged, anxiously scanning for their departure homewards and delayed trains (none on this auspicious Thursday night), gathering way above the hubbub, in a haven of relative peace and quiet, the less pressed for time relaxed in one of London's hidden gems. With Fuller's Inns Managing Director Jonathon Swaine on hand, licensee Helen Wilson got on with pouring halves of magic - a first cask of Fuller's draught Vintage Ale for 2015. And then the focus of the evening arrived.

Refreshed and restored, regulars and members gathered around as West London CAMRA proudly presented Helen with their top award - West London Pub of the Year 2015! Helen was almost overcome with emotion, but collected herself enough to lead a critical tasting of the 2015 Vintage Ale - tapped only on Tuesday, and in superb condition - and to bring over her key team, without whom none of these achievements would have been possible. Fuller's executive chef and team were on hand to provide copious nibbles.

Jonathon Swaine, Fuller’s Inns MD, said:

“This is an incredible accolade for Helen and her team at The Mad Bishop and Bear and, indeed, for Fuller’s. It is great to see all their hard work paying off, from being named Fuller’s Master Cellarman of the Year 2014 to now being the best pub in West London. You know that when you order a beer from Helen and her team it will be the closest thing to the perfect serve. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Helen and her team for all their passion and hard work.”

Mad Bishop and Bear, opened in Paddington Station in 1999, has been in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide continuously since 2002. Helen Wilson is no stranger to either Fuller's or the area, as she has also presided over the Victoria in Strathearn Place W2, also a Fuller's pub, where her partner Chris still presides. The Victoria has also been in the Good Beer Guide on & off since 1982. Between them Helen and Chris have a joint record of at least 28 successive years in the Good Beer Guide in different pubs!

The Star Tavern is to hold their 2^nd real ale beer festival to run from the 10th until the 16th of May.

It's just twelve days to the Orpington Liberal Club Beer and Cider Festival.

Don't forget, booking is essential, all entry tickets must be purchased by Wednesday, 20 August. While an entry ticket costs £5.40 (over the bar) or £5.80 (online from here) it includes your first two pints (or one pint and food).

The full beer, cider and perry listing is attached.

There are stunning beers from both local brewers and further afield.

All real ale, real cider and real perry is just £2.70 a pint.

Both days feature:

Barbecue of the now legendary Castle Farm at the Hop Shop three week hung beef burgers from free roaming cattle, plus Pork and Kentish Hop Sausages.

Live Folk on Friday and Folk 'n' Blues on Saturday.

£3 deposit for festival glass on arrival, which you can either keep or cash in.

The Malt House, Fulham, will be hosting a 3 day beer festival from Friday August 22nd – Monday August 25th. Visit their website for more details.