About CAMRA

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is an independent, voluntary, consumer organisation which campaigns for real ale, real pubs and consumer rights. Membership is open to all individuals although corporate entities such as breweries and pubs are not members; we currently have over 100,000 individual members.

CAMRA is governed by a voluntary unpaid national executive, elected by the membership. We have a branch structure which means that all members can join a local CAMRA branch and campaign and socialise locally. There are around 200 branches covering the UK and many of the branches run local beer festivals, publish local newsletters and run social events to pubs and breweries.

Although we are a volunteer-led organisation there is also a small professional staff of twenty five responsible for central campaigning, research, membership services, publishing, marketing and administration.

CAMRA is financed through membership subscriptions, sales of products such as books and sweatshirts, and from the proceeds of beer festivals. We are a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee and our accounts are lodged annually with Companies House.

Birmingham CAMRA Branch

The Birmingham branch of CAMRA was founded way back in the seventies. During that decade a very successful beer festival was held at the Digbeth Institute and Birmigham also played host to the Great British Beer Festival at the old Bingley Hall on Broad Street before its untimely demise due to arson.

Regular beer festivals were not established until 1995 when Aston University Student's Guild became the regular venue for the next 15 years. In 2010 the bold decision was made to more than double the size of the festival and move to brand new premises.

In October 2010 the Birmingham Beer Festival was held at the Second City Suite on Sherlock Street and was an outstanding success.

At the last count membership of the Birmingham branch stood at over 1100 members. We produce a high quality newsletter called Out Inn Brum and an electronic monthly newsletter called Brum-e.

The branch enjoys good regular attendance at branch meetings and has a very active social calendar.

We often organise trips to breweries and visit many towns and cities around the country to sample the delights their pubs have to offer.

Whether a member or not you are more than welcome to attend any of our meetings or social events. What better way to make new friends if you are new to the area.