Vote for your favourite 2025 Calderdale Pub, Club or Cider Club
Online voting for the Branch’s Pub of the Year, Club of the Year and Cider Pub of the Year is now open. Fill in a form here.
John Hartley
Halifax & Calderdale Branch are devastated to announce the sudden death at the age of 68 of long-standing committee member and festival organiser John Hartley.
John was a knowledgeable and passionate campaigner for traditional pubs, ales and in particular beers matured in the wood. He was recognised nationally by CAMRA last year for his campaigning activities and – under his guidance – Calderdale Beer & Cider Festival grew rapidly to become one of the best and most popular in the North of England.
John’s funeral was on 20th January and was attended by approximately eighty people. It was a humanist event conducted by a well-known local celebrant – who happens to be a cask ale drinker – and she conducted the proceedings with dignity and one or two moments of inspired humour.
The wake at the Victorian Craft Beer Café in Halifax was amazing, attended by at least 100 people, including three Brewers, licensees or representatives from many local pubs, representatives of SPBW and quite a few adjoining CAMRA branches…plus a fair few regulars.
Posters showing photo-montages of John in typical poses at pubs and beer festivals were displayed on the walls and a memorial photo album was passed around. The special commemorative ale, “The Regal John Hartley”, an 8.5% Scotch Whisky barrel-aged stout brewed by Eagles Crag Brewery in Todmorden, ran dry in a couple of hours and many of the pub’s seven other cask ales ran off during the afternoon and evening. John would have been proud of us! He will be an impossible act to follow.
RIP Mate!
We hope CAMRA Halifax and Calderdale members will continue to support the pubs, clubs and bars in the branch area.
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When visiting pubs, clubs and bars, please remember to score on WhatPub. Not sure how to score beers? Click here.
We are sending regular emails on local initiatives to those with up to date email addresses. For those not registered for email communication now might be a good time to register.
You can update your membership records by logging into the CAMRA national web site, then you can go to the ‘Personal Details’ and `Marketing Preferences’ sections to update your contact details so the branch is able to keep you informed of any developments and news from our branch and its activities.
We have a Pulling Together Group to share information about what pubs, clubs and brewers are doing at this time of crisis in the industry.
Visit the National CAMRA Site for information on what CAMRA campaigns for and how you can get involved. There is also information on upcoming events such as Beer Festivals.
Branch Diary
Recent Branch News
Beer Festivals & Events
Frank Collins of the Dog and Partridge Inn, Sowood receives a special award from Halifax and Calderdale CAMRA
Recent Branch Presentations
Old Gate Bar and Restaurant, Hebden Bridge
Nan Moor’s, Todmorden
Barkisland Cricket Club
Victorian Craft Beer Café, Halifax
Good Beer Guide 2025
Beer Scoring
Not sure why you should score beers or how to do it? We have produced some guidelines which we hope you will useful.
Good Beer Guide Selection Process
Have you ever wondered how the Good Beer Guide entries are selected? Find out here.
Beer Styles
In 2020 CAMRA introduced new beer styles. View an introduction to beer styles and a description of each.
European Beer Styles
The EBCU Style Guide is the first comprehensive guide for consumers to the beer styles of Europe and beyond. Check it out here: EBCU – beer styles.
Branch Articles
A collection of articles written by Branch members on various subjects you might find of interest.
