Branch News
Here's the latest pub, real ale and cider news from within our branch area, alongside reports and photos of our social activities.
You can find our branch meeting minutes in the Members' Area.
Previous years' news stories are available from our archives: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021.
We also have a Groups.io group for branch members to share news on real ales, breweries and pubs in the area and receive reminders about meetings and events.
- Three Horseshoes Third Win
Monday 27 July 2026
A huge well done to The Three Horseshoes in Cranleigh who have won our coveted Branch Pub of the Year award for the third year in succession. We visited the pub on the evening of Monday 27th July 2026 to hold our monthly branch meeting and to present the award certificate to landlord Peter. As in previous years, we timed our visit to coincide with the pub's annual beer festival which saw a selection of 25 different real ales on offer over the preceding weekend.
Pictured below is Peter (on the right] receiving the certificate from Rob Wellls, our branch chairman.
Public Transport Information The pub is near to the Cranleigh Hospital bus stop on Stagecoach South services 53 and 63 which run half hourly during the day to/from Guildford town centre and Shalford railway station.
- Dorking Social Report
Saturday 18 July 2026
On Saturday 18th July 2026, we joined forces with the Croydon & Sutton branch of CAMRA for a pub crawl around Dorking. First stop was The Star Inn, where we found the ubiquitous Greene KIng IPA plus one of Green King's World Cup brews as well.
Next stop, and just across the road, was The Old House At Home. This Dorking Brewery establishment was offering a selection of four different Dorking beers, these being DB One, Pilcrow Pale, Stanza XPA and the relatively new Sunbeam Golden Ale.Another very short journey (quite literally next door!) to Cobbett's Beer Shop and Micropub was next, who had two cask pale ales on, plus a selection of keg beers and real ciders. The two cask ales were Flexing Vocabulary by Manchester's Pomona Island brewery, plus Gotta Tick 'em All by Downlands.
Yet another short hop across the road to the The King's Arms where we found the usual Shepherd Neame fare - Masterbrew, Spitfire and Whitstable Bay on the handpumps.
Final stop was a bit more of an uphill walk - The Cricketers. This Fuller's pub often has an interesting guest ale on alongside the usual London Pride, ESB and Hophead beers. Today was no exception, and we found Salcombe Gold on the bar.
- Cobbett’s Fourth Cider Win
Saturday 11 July 2026
The branch would like to offer our biggest congratulations to Cobbett's Beer Shop and Micropub in Dorking who have won our Branch Cider Pub of the Year award for 2026, this now being the fourth consecutive year that the venue has taken the title.
Members of the branch gathered in the micropub on the afternoon of Saturday 11th May 2026 to present the certificate and enjoy a celebratory drink or two. Pictured below from left to right are our branch chairman, Rob Wells, handing over the certificate to Cobbett’s owner Tim and barman Steve.
Public Transport Information Cobbett's is located in Dorking town centre and is easily accessible by both bus and train.
- Surrey Pub and Club of the Year 2026
Friday 3 July 2026
Congratulations to The Crown in Horsell and The Egham United Services Club who have respectively won CAMRA’s Surrey Pub and Club of the Awards for 2026.
The presentation at The Crown has been arranged for Thursday 6th August at around 2000, whilst the club’s presentation will be on Thursday 30th July at approximately 1900. As these are Surrey-wide awards all members in the County are most welcome to attend.
- Old Cannon Presentation
Saturday 25 April 2026
After our epic trip to North Yorkshire in the summer of 2025 to present North Riding Brewery with their award (see North Riding Festival Award), this year the Redhill Beer Festival organising committee stayed slightly closer to home with a trip to Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk to present The Old Cannon Brewery with the award for their Gunner's Daughter ESB winning Redhill Beer of the Festival 2025.
We visited the brewery's taproom on Saturday 15th April 2026, and were pleased to find six of the brewery’s ales to sample. These were Best Bitter (a session pale at 3.8%), Even Keel (a tropical pale at 3.4%), Blonde Bombshell (a pale at 4.2%), Man Overboard (a pale at 5.0%), Perfect Storm (an old ale at 4.6%) and, of course, the award winning Gunner's Daughter ESB at 5.5%.
Pictures of the day are below, including our Festival Chair, Martin Longhurst, handing over the certificate to Hannah from the brewery.
- Lewes Trip Report
Saturday 11 April 2026
Saturday the 11th April saw a contingent of branch members jump on the train and head towards the south coast, and the town of Lewes in particular, for a day out to sample some of the best pubs within walking distance of the railway station there.
First stop was The Brewers Arms, where we found Tring Side Pocket, Nene Valley Blond, Big Hand Seren Pale and North Riding Caramel Porter. It’s always a pleasure to see a North Riding brew after their beers came in first and second places in the Redhill Beer of the Festival in 2024:
Next stop was The Royal Oak, a Greene King operated venue but with a varied selection of real ales. On the bar we found Vocation Chop & Change, Gun Scaramanga, Long Man Old Man and the local Harvey’s Sussex Best:
We then moved onto the next stop, the historic Lewes Arns where we found the usual selection of Fuller’s beers, including two from Hophead and Gale’s HSB.
Our last official stop was at The Elephant and Castle where two Harvey’s beers were being served, these being Sussex Best and Pells Pale:
Public Transport Information All of the venues we visited are within 5-10 minutes walk of Lewes railway station on Southern Railway.
- Wetherspoons Festival Beer Tasting
Tuesday 3 March 2026
The branch would like to extend their sincere thanks to Justin and Steve, the management team at The Jack Fairman in Horley for organising a tasting event of some of the real ales available in this month’s Wetherspoons Beer Festival.
This ever popular event is becoming an annual tradition within the branch and, with limited spaces available, is always over subscribed.
We were able to sample the following festival beers (listed along with their ABVs):
- Oakham Soul Synergy 4.0
- Adnams Flat White 5.0
- Thornbridge Pink Gratefruit Pale 4.0
- Brains Crimson Legend 4.8
- Fyne Driftwood 4.0
- Green Jack Orange Wheat 6.0
- Harviestoun Noble Pair 4.2
- Elgoods Shug Monkey 3.8
- Roosters Nectar 5.2
- Woodfordes Voyager 3.4
- Hogs Back Juliet 3.8
- Stu Brew Exam Room Tears 5.5
Pictured below are the assembled branch members enjoying the session.
Public Transport Information The Jack Fairman is a 5 minute walk from Horley railway station.
- 10 Year Award for The Radius Arms
Saturday 7 February 2026
We’d like to congratulate The Radius Arms in Whyteleafe for their award for 10 consecutive years in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide.
Members of the branch met at the micropub on the afternoon of Saturday 7th February 2026, where we presented the certificate.
On the bar we found both Ice Queen and Butterley from Ossett Brewery, The IPA from Anspach & Hobday, and Millionaire Shortbread Stout from New Bristol Brewery.
Pictured below is our branch chairman, Rob Wells (on the right), presenting the award to owner Vince.
Public Transport Information The Radius Arms is close to both Upper Warlingham and Whyteleafe stations on Southern Railway.