Event Planner

The April branch business meeting will take place on Tuesday 12th May Starting 7.30pm.

Venue – The Plough Prestbury

The Agenda for the meeting can be found HERE

All members welcome.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2026

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Cheltenham Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) will take place  on Tuesday 26th May 2026 at 7.30pm at The Sandford Park Alehouse

Nominations are invited for the offices of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Pubs Officer, Social Secretary, Press Officer, Clubs Officer and up to four ordinary committee members. They should show the candidates name, the office for which he/she is nominated, the names and signatures of the proposer and seconder and the candidate’s signature to indicate his/her willingness to serve. Candidates, proposers, and seconders must be members in good standing of the Cheltenham branch of CAMRA. A nomination form can be found HERE

Nominations, as well as any motions for debate at the meeting should be sent to the Chairman or may be handed in at any Cheltenham branch business meeting.

Please bring your membership card to the meeting in order to vote on any motions raised.

We are going to the town of Tamworth on 30th May. We shall, as usual, be visiting a few pubs including the wonderful Tamworth Tap.

We will be getting the 10.59 train out from Cheltenham, returning on the 18.49.

The first pub will be the Sheriff of Tamworth.

The North Cotswold Branch of CAMRA in conjunction with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway are holding their 24th Ale and Steam Weekend at Winchcombe and Toddington Stations from Friday 12th June until Sunday 14th June 2026

We will again be splitting the beer sales between Winchcombe and Toddington Stations.

On Friday 12h June, the bars on both stations will be open from 12:00 noon until 19:00

On Saturday 13th June the bars will be open from 10:30am until 18:00.

On Sunday 14th June, both bars will be open from 11:00 until 15:00. Opening on Sunday will be subject to beer availability.

The total number of Beers will be about 50, made up from 30 at Winchcombe and 20 at Toddington. The beer theme this year will be London & home counties. 12 different Ciders/Perry will also be available, split between the two stations. A few more beers will be held in reserve. Also Hot & Cold Food with Soft Drinks

Train Times & Entry

A ticket for travel or a platform ticket costing £5, valid on the day, is required for entry to the event. You will then need to buy a standard souvenir glass for an additional £2. You will also need to purchase a Beer Token Card(s) for the value of £10. (No cash sales at the bar).

Hence a complete normal bar package costs £12.

You only need to buy a bar package once, which you can use at either bar. Extra token cards can be purchased as required. Unused tokens can either be donated to charity, or cashed in, during festival opening times only. Similarly, glasses can be returned; a refund of £1 will be given.

For train times see GWR site.

For information on train times please visit http://www.gwsr.com

Limited Car Parking

Please note that parking at Winchcombe is very limited and it is more fun travelling there by train. (Ample parking available at Cheltenham Race Course and at Toddington Station)

Volunteers

If you would like to help at this event, please click here for a helpers form. Please print this, fill it in by hand, and scan it. Then please forward the completed scanned form as an attachment to our Festival Director Alan McLellan – alan.mclellan1@btinternet.com

Further Information

Please email Alan McLellan

www.northcotswoldcamra.org.uk/Steam_2026.htm

The 16th annual Wheel Ale festival returns to Cheltenham Motor Club on Saturday 20th June 2026.

Non members are welcome.

BADRAG, the CAMRA Bristol and District Rare Ales Group, have a Kingsdown (Bristol) Pub Walk on Saturday, 11th July.

This will be a lunchtime/afternoon pub walk. Provional start time is 1.30/2pm as, subject to our planning visits, the Robin Hood https://camra.org.uk/pubs/robin-hood-bristol-114125 opens at that time on a Saturday.

First bus 72 stops close by and starts at Temple Meads. Cheltenham members welcome!!

The 48th Cotswold Beer Festival returns from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th July 2026 and we can’t wait to welcome you back.

Expect a carefully curated range of 110+ (as always!) cask ales, following last year’s early sell out we will be doubling up on some popular beers and only opening the second cask on Saturday afternoon, alongside 45 ciders and perries.

It all takes place in the unique surroundings of Postlip Hall and it’s Tithe barn

Food-wise, we keep things simple and well done: wood-fired pizza across the weekend, SriLicious bringing bold flavours on Saturday, and the much-loved Postlip Burger BBQ back once again.

We’re still fine-tuning the live music and finalising the full beer and cider lists, but tickets are now on sale. More details to follow – but in the meantime, tell everyone(!) to get it in the diary.

Sessions Times

Friday 17th July – 6pm-11pm.
Saturday 18th July – 12pm-9pm.
Sunday 19th July – 12pm to 3pm (Subject to beer and cider remaining)

Book before the Early May Bank Holiday for a discount. New this year: All entry tickets now include £5 in beer tokens( to speed up getting your first pint), along with a souvenir pint glass and festival programme.

BUY TICKETS – https://tckty.camra.org.uk/e/515/cotswold-beer-festival-2026

Volunteers Needed

The festival wouldn’t happen without our brilliant volunteers, and we’re always on the lookout for new people. Volunteers get:-

• Free entry for the whole weekend
• Free festival t-shirt and pint glass
• Some free beer and a free burger from the BBQ for Friday night’s volunteers
• Some free beer and a buffet lunch on Saturday in Postlip Hall

You can volunteer by completing the form here:-
https://forms.gle/vsWp6pcdjpCh5LT98

19^th Moreton In Marsh Beer Festival 11^th to 12^th September 2026

More details to follow