A selection of photos from Mid Anglia events and social trips

Mid Anglia Branch Pub Survey - February 24th 2024

Eight of our members set off in a minibus to survey six pubs within our region on the afternoon of the 24th of February. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon visiting some superb watering holes, including the Red Lion at Kenninghall (pictured below during the trip), which has been named as our branch Pub of the Year 2024.

Presentation of Champion Beer of Britain Awards to Grain Brewery 27th October 2023

Grain Brewery scooped two awards in the Champion Beer of Britain (East Anglia Area) this year. They won Gold for Lignum Vitae in the British & New World IPA's category, and Silver for Slate in the Strong Stouts & Porters category. Our chairman presented Phil Halls with the certificates at the Brewery Tap on Friday 27th October.

A few of our members were in attendance as a "Meet the Brewer" event was also being held, with Alan Thompson from Old Chimneys, with a chance to taste the latest batch of his collaboration brew with Grain, Good King Henry V. Superb stuff it was too!

Mid Anglia CAMRA Social Trip to Norwich 14th October 2023

A few of our members made the trip to Norwich by train or bus on Saturday 14th of October to visit a few pubs in the centre, and just south of the city. Organised by our chaiman, David, an enjoyable afternoon was had by all. The first pub on the list was The Murderers and then onwards to The Kings Arms, The Trafford Arms, The Coachmakers Arms, The Fat Cat & Canary, finishing the day at the Coach & Horses.

Mid Anglia CAMRA Pub of the Year, Cider Pub of the Year & Club of the Year 2023 Presentations

A roundup of our presentation of certificates for our Pubs of the Year 2023. Mid Anglia CAMRA voted the Ampersand Brewery Tap in Diss as our overall Pub of The Year and a group of our members turned out for the presentation of the certificate to bar manager Stuart Morrison on the 5th August.

Our Club of the Year 2023 is The Carleton Rode Social Club and the certificate was presented to the team over there on the 2nd of September.

Garboldisham Fox Inn was voted as our Cider Pub of the Year for the fifth year in a row! The presentation of their certificate was made by the branch chairman on the 15th September.

Congratulations to all three and many thanks to our members who came along to the presentations to lend their support.

Tour of Grain Brewery - July 15th 2023

A branch social trip on the 15th July saw 12 of our members travelling over to Grain at Alburgh for tour of the brewery with a few beers afterwards in the Brewery Taproom. Phil Halls gave us an informative tour of their brewing process with a couple of tasting afterwards - many thanks to him for having us over there. We spent a couple of enjoyable hours sitting outside in the sunshine, chatting and sampling a few of the excellent Grain offerings from the taproom beside the brewery.

Harleston Beer Festival - June 17th 2023

Mid Anglia CAMRA were invited along to this years' Harleston Beer Festival to judge the best beers of the weekend. It's a hard job, but someone has to do it! It was an extremely well organised event with a superb selection of 30 real ales on offer and the weather was largely very kind. After much deliberation, we ended up with three clear winners.

Winning the GOLD award for the best beer of the festival was "Cowella" from the Ampersand Brew Co.

Winning the SILVER award was "Lignum Vitae" from the Grain Brewery.

Winning the BRONZE award was "Banjo Hill" from Bull of the Woods.

Congratulations to the winners and to everyone involved in organising the festival.

Mid Anglia Social Trip to Cambridge - Saturday April 22nd 2023

Members enjoyed a day out in Cambridge by train on Saturday April 22nd 2023. The pubs visited were: Devonshire Arms, Cambridge Blue, Alexandra Arms, Free Press, Live & Let LIve and Cambridge Station. The motley crew below:

Social Trip to Beccles - Saturday 1st April 2023

There was a good turnout for the branch social trip to Beccles by bus from Diss - pubs visited were: The KIngs Head, The Butchers Arms and the Caxton Sports & Social Club. There was a stop off on the way back to Diss at the ever excellent Broome Artichoke on the way back (picture below).

Good Beer Guide & WhatPub Research Trip - Saturday 18th February 2023

Our intrepid team set out by minibus to explore a selection of the more rural pubs within our branch area for updating the Good Beer Guide.

Ampersand Brewery Tour and Award Presentation - November 26th 2022

There was a huge turn out for a brewery tour down at Ampersand in Diss (over 20 of us!). Stuart gave us a detailed run through the brewing process at Ampersand, the ingredients they use and guided us through the the tasting of three of their beers. Many said it was one of the best brewery tours they have ever been on. We were also there to present Ampersand with the bronze award for their "Cocow" chocolate milk stout in the Champion Beers of Britain 2022 (East Anglia Area). Congratulations and many thanks to Ampersand.

Branch Brewery Tour & Social Trip to Bungay - 14th May 2022

On Saturday 14th of May, branch members enjoyed a social trip over to Bungay by bus. We started with a tour of the Green Dragon Brewery, situated behind the pub of the same name in the town. After sampling a pint or two in the pub, we headed the the Chequers Inn and the Fleece. It was back on the bus and out to Broome Artichoke, followed by a visit to Earsham Queens Head before heading back to Diss on the bus. The photos below were taken at the Green Dragon.