Member assistance requested

Could all members please help us to keep our area  information updated by entering any updates for their local pub into What Pub this will really assist our pubs member and enable you to have current info when you venture further afield.

Staff required for the Amber Valley CAMRA Festival

As you will be aware this years' Amber Valley Beer & Cider Festival is going to take place at Strutts Community Centre, Belper from Thursday 26^th September to Saturday 28^th September.

We will need volunteers to run this Festival, and hope that those of you who have worked here before, plus a few new faces, will volunteer to help. Staffing forms will be available on the Amber Valley Website, www.ambervalleycamra.org.uk, from the beginning of August.

We are making a few changes this year. The Festival will open from 12noon on Thursday 26th (previously it was 4 pm), but will not open on Sunday 29^th. Admission on Thursday afternoon will be free for everyone (not just CAMRA members) and we hope that this boosts attendance. All the bars will take cash, not tokens. We intend to run small Key Keg and Gin Bars, and if you have expertise in these areas and/or would like to be involved in running these bars please let us know.

Staff perks will be on the same lines as last year. There will be free beer/cider tokens per hour worked, including set-up. Anyone working 6 consecutive hours or more on one day will be entitled to a meal token. A taxi service home will be provided for those who are required to work until closing time on Friday or Saturday and cannot get home by public transport. There will be a staff party in December with free food and some drinks provided the Festival is a financial success.

No festival can succeed without a dedicated band of volunteers to staff it. We hope to see you there.

Seeking volunteer expertise

We are considering ways to increase the options for customers at our Beer and Cider Festival which will take place at Strutts Community Centre, Belper from Thursday 26^th September to Saturday 28^th September.

 Key Keg beers are increasing in popularity, and we would like to put on a small Key Keg bar (probably no more than 6 beers at any one time, which would require 3 chiller / cooler units). We are therefore seeking people who know enough to plan and /or run such a bar; any ideas on sourcing suitable equipment to dispense beer in this way would be very welcome.

Similar thoughts apply to gin, there seems to be no slowing in the demand for specialty gins. Clearly if we are to offer these at the festival it has to be done in a way that is acceptable to the customers; among other things a copious supply of ice appears to be essential. If you are interested in in being involved with this project, please let us know.

Mild Trail 2019

Amber Valley Mild Trail

During May Amber Valley, in conjunction with Derby, ran a mild trail. The Amber Valley winner was Angels Bar, Belper and the runner up was the Red Lion, Ripley. In Derby the winner was the Smithfield with the Flowerpot as runner up.

We will be presenting a certificate to Angels Bar at 8pm on Friday June 21^st and to the Red Lion at 7:15pm on Thursday 27^th June (with a Branch meeting on the same day at 8pm at the Crossroads, Alfreton).

Please come along to the presentations, and we would like to offer congratulations to the successful pubs.

Presentation of Certificates

Good Beer Guide 2019

Our Branch is allocated 12 entries and it's always a tough job choosing entrants from the wide array of fantastic pubs we have in Amber Valley  - Congratulations to all our entrants!!

Steampacket Inn, Swanwick
Talbot Taphouse, Ripley
Thorn Tree, Ripley
Holly Bush, Makeney
Spotted Cow, Holbrook
Angels, Belper
Arkwright, Belper
White Hart, Bargate
Black Bulls Head, Openwoodgate
Old Oak, Horsley Woodhouse