Opening a Pub or Bar? Here's What Your Local CAMRA Branch Can Do For You

Are you opening a new pub or bar, or taking over an existing venue? Your local CAMRA branch isn't just about campaigning - we're here to support you in running a successful pub and connecting with customers who are passionate about quality beer, cider, and great pubs. Here's how we can help.

Throughout this post, I've included specific examples from Central Manchester CAMRA in italics to show how these benefits work in practice.

Get Your Pub Seen: Free Listings & Promotion

The first thing we'll do is get your pub listed on the CAMRA website (formerly known as WhatPub, which is transitioning as of December 10th, 2025). Just share your opening times (which we'll likely gather from Google Maps beforehand if possible), what you serve, and other basic details, and we'll add you to the directory alongside approximately 31,000 pubs across the UK.

Within Central Manchester I have created this initial Notion form, which I will likely improve over time, to collect a few of those initial details.

This free listing helps ~150,000 CAMRA members and the wider public discover your venue. Think of it as a shop window to a highly engaged audience who actively seek out quality pubs - the kind of customers who become your regulars.

Beer Scoring: Real-Time Quality Feedback

CAMRA members can score your real ale using our National Beer Scoring System - similar to Untappd but focused on cask quality. Scores range from 0-5, giving you honest feedback on your cellarmanship and beer quality. This isn't just data - it's intelligence that helps you maintain standards and identify issues before they become problems.

Awards That Drive Business

Recognition from CAMRA isn't just a certificate on the wall - it's marketing gold that brings customers through your doors.

The Good Beer Guide

The Good Beer Guide is the UK's best-selling beer and pub guide, published every September. Each of our 210+ branches selects pubs based on consistently high beer scores, quality, and range. Getting in the Guide is a genuine achievement that drives footfall year-round - some pubs even celebrate 10, 20, or 30+ consecutive years of inclusion.

Selection is merit-based and free. You can't buy your way in, which is exactly why customers trust it.

The Central Manchester CAMRA Branch Good Beer Guide Selection policy, for example, can be found here.

Pub of the Year Competitions

Win at branch level and you're on a path that goes through county, regional, and potentially national Pub of the Year - one of the most prestigious awards in the UK pub industry. We also run Cider Pub of the Year and Club of the Year competitions.

Many branches offer additional awards like Pub of the Month, Best Newcomer, or anniversary recognition. Each one is a publicity opportunity and a reason for customers to visit.

Join Our Schemes

LocAle: Champion Local Brewing

Commit to always stocking at least one real ale from a brewery within 20-30 miles (varies by branch), and you'll become a LocAle pub. You'll get window stickers, directory listings, and promotion to customers who value local produce. It's great for the environment, supports local breweries, creates customer loyalty, and gives you talking points about your commitment to the community.

CAMRA Discount Scheme

Offer members a discount on real ale - typically 10% or 20p off a pint - and you'll be listed as a participating venue. It's a small gesture that drives regular custom from an engaged, loyal customer base who actively seek out discount pubs.

Support When You Need It

Brewery Connections & Cellarmanship

Our Brewery Liaison Officers can connect you with local breweries, provide cellarmanship advice, and help resolve any supply or quality issues. We've got decades of collective knowledge from publicans and beer enthusiasts who are happy to share.

Pub Protection & Campaigning

If your venue faces planning threats, licensing challenges, or unwanted redevelopment, we have extensive experience in pub protection campaigns. We can help with Assets of Community Value applications, planning objections, public consultations, and media campaigns. We've saved hundreds of pubs from closure or conversion.

Within Central Manchester, we've recently campaigned to protect the Marble Arch from nearby construction works that threatened to overshadow this wonderful pub - you can read more in the MEN.

We also successfully supported getting the Britons Protection listed as an Asset of Community Value when it faced threats from its owners Star Pubs & Bars (part of Heineken), who served eviction notices to the leaseholders. This ACV listing provided crucial protection for this Grade II-listed CAMRA National Heritage pub.

Heritage Recognition

Running a pub with historic significance? CAMRA's Pub Heritage Group recognizes pubs with intact historic interiors through our National and Regional Inventories. Recognition brings heritage tourists and enthusiasts who specifically seek out historic venues - a valuable niche market.

More Than Just Beer

CAMRA branches organize pub crawls, social events, Meet the Brewer evenings, and tastings - all opportunities to bring engaged customers to your venue. Branch meetings often rotate between member pubs, guaranteeing footfall and helping you build relationships with your most passionate local customers.

The Bottom Line

Working with your local CAMRA branch means:

• Free promotion to ~150,000 passionate customers
• Quality feedback through beer scoring
• Award opportunities that drive business
• Community connection with loyal regulars
• Expert support when you need it
• Campaigning backup if your pub faces threats

We're volunteers who love pubs and want to see them thrive. Whether you're serving cask ale, real cider, craft beer, or all of the above, your local branch wants to help you succeed.

Get Started

Find and contact your local branch through the CAMRA website branch finder. Look for your branch's Pubs Officer, Pub Liaison Coordinator, or general Branch Contact - they're your main point of contact and will be delighted to hear from you.

Most branches hold monthly/bi-monthly branch meetings that publicans are welcome to attend. It's a great way to meet your local CAMRA community, understand what members value, and build relationships that benefit your business.

Questions? Your local branch is there to help - just reach out.

Banner image: Historic England via CAMRA Stock Library