Members’ Weekend in April in Torquay

Members’ Weekend – beers, brewery tours and other fun stuff - exclusively for CAMRA Members!

CAMRA is well-known as a volunteer-led organisation that hosts beer and cider festivals, all round the UK. But, if you are a CAMRA Member, there is another event you can enjoy, that is free to attend - Members' Weekend!

This is similar to a weekend beer festival, but hosted in a different location every year, and it also includes CAMRA’s AGM and Conference. The AGM serves as the opportunity to vote in new Directors and receive the accounts. Conference is when we hear the Chairman and Chief Executive speak, debate motions from members, and celebrate members’ and Branches’ achievements, as various awards are presented.

Conference can be quite interesting, although I have never got up early enough to catch the AGM. What is most interesting is the dedicated Members' Bar! This serves a range of fantastic local beers and ciders that you won't find in a lot of pubs; carefully curated choices by local experts where the drinks you buy are more likely to be supporting local brewers and small businesses. You can also get your beers/ciders in thirds and halves, thus offering the opportunity to try even more delightful drinks without a massive hangover.

But what Members’ Weekend also offers is the opportunity to go on a trip/tour of a local brewery (Friday/Saturday evenings) as well as attend on-site “fringe” activities (just like other conferences), mostly on Saturday afternoon. These are usually on the theme of beer/cider education, such as tutored tastings, or support for development of Branches e.g. member recruitment. You can of course, just stay in the bar! Every year there is something different and this year, cider fans will be well catered for: not only are we in the West Country, but 2025 is the 50th anniversary of CAMRA campaigning on real cider and perry.

In April 2025, Members' Weekend is on the English Riviera, in Torquay. Not a place I've been to before, so for me this offers an opportunity to explore a new town as well. There's usually an excellent short guide to the area (prepared by CAMRA’s hosting Branch) which points you to local hostelries, where the ale (and/or cider) is good! It’s perfectly planned for a weekend away. Arrive on Friday, check into your hotel, then (from 4pm) you can sign in to the venue, get your member’s bag and head into the Members’ Bar.

On Saturday morning, there’s the short AGM followed by Conference. The bar opens at lunchtime, and afterwards, Conference resumes, followed by fringe activities. It can be a very busy day. But if the weather is good, perhaps you’ll take time to explore Torquay e.g. Torre Abbey, the beach and the harbour?

Conference continues on Sunday morning with the Bar opening at lunchtime, so you can try a few more beers/ciders in the afternoon before travelling home, or perhaps checking out local pubs.

I've been to the last three Members’ Weekends - in Eastbourne, Sheffield and Dundee - and as you may have gathered from my sales pitch, planning on my fourth! I can't say I have attended much of the official business, but each year, it is an opportunity to dip your toes into something different.

Highlights of Eastbourne: a long walk on the Downs and a tour of the Long Man Brewery. Sheffield involved exploring the city, and pubs around Kelham Island. Dundee was mostly art and history (RRS Discovery, the Verdant Works Museum and the V&A) - for my write-up from Dundee, check out August/Sept 2024 London Drinker.

And as for Torquay (11-13 April 2025)? Well, I’m not sure what we’ll do yet, as at the time of writing, the full programme hasn’t been revealed. But I am looking forward to it. The only catch is that you have to be a CAMRA member to come to the event and to visit the dedicated Members’ Bar. So, if you’re a CAMRA member, why not login and register to attend now? Remember, it’s free to attend, and early registration means you’ll be the first to be notified of the booking process for the trips and activities, some of which sell out quickly. You can also get more involved by volunteering – see the event page to be part of Team Torquay. If you want to bring your partner, you can add them to your membership for just £8. And if you’re not yet a member, you can join at https://camra.org.uk/membership/membership-rates and get all the other benefits that CAMRA membership brings.

Written by Maria Freeman who is a South East London CAMRA Member.

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