Scottish Branches Information

Aberdeen, Grampian & Northern Isles branch of CAMRA started in 1976 with only a handful of members and about the same number of pubs doing real ale. The branch was then simply called the Aberdeen branch. We covered all areas north of Montrose, including the Northern Isles. We were also responsible for all the highland area, including Inverness and all the way up to Wick and Thurso, until the Inverness branch (now Highlands & Western Isles) was formally formed in January 1993. There were very few ale outlets back then, with the longest-standing outlet being the Red Lion, known locally as “The Beastie”, in Forres, our first GBG entry in 1976.

There was no CAMRA run beer festival in the area until we ran our first one in the Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen, in September 1987. Before that, we had assisted at privately run ones at the Lodge Hotel, Old Rayne, in the late 70s and at the Udny Arms, Newburgh, in 1980. We also ran bars in conjunction with the Council at various Real Ale and Jazz, Folk and Country events at the Beach Ballroom. In fact, at one of these events, we sold a whole barrel (288 pints) of Timothy Taylor Landlord, which was probably the first time this beer had been sold in the Northeast. Also, we sold a kil (144 pints) of the first and, sadly, the last brew of Leith 85/-. Also, a couple were run with the Douglas Hotel on Market Street.

Eventually, we secured the use of Cowdray Hall in 1987 and 1988 to run our first two of many beer festivals. In 1989, we moved to the McClymont Hall in Holburn Street and ran 18 festivals there each November, establishing the festival as a regular event. We moved to the Richard Donald Stand at Pittodrie Stadium in November 2007. This proved to be a very chilly event (for beer and drinkers!), and we moved the festival in 2008 to its new regular late May/early June slot until it ceased in 2016 with the 30^th consecutive annual event.

In April 1989, we hosted the first National CAMRA AGM to be held in Scotland, which was held at the Arts Lecture Theatre on the University campus. This did wonders for real ale in Aberdeen due to the hundreds of drinkers from all over Britain attending the weekend. The same year, the Boars Head at Kinmuck won the inaugural national Pub of the Year (called POTY) under the ownership of Stuart Singer, who is now mine host at the constant Good Beer Guide entry Redgarth in Oldmeldrum. Sadly, the Boars Head is no longer a pub

To visit the branch website, click here.
To visit the branch’s Facebook page, click here.
To visit the branch’s Twitter page, click here.

Updated on 17/03/2024

The branch was initially known as Ayrshire & Galloway, with Kirkcudbrightshire also included. A few years ago, the Dumfries & Stewartry branch was formed, and they took over the eastern part of Galloway. Our branch was renamed Ayrshire & Wigtownshire.

Membership
We have almost 600 members, of whom a significant number actively participate in day-to-day activities such as beer scoring and nearly 100 of them volunteer at our festival.

Branch Publications
Our branch newsletter, Full Pints, first posted in 2002 to all 120 branch members, was just that, a letter to members. By 2004, an 8-page Full Pints was first made available to the public by being distributed to all local real ale outlets. Since then, it has developed into a full-colour quarterly magazine which is well supported by our advertisers. Each issue, approximately 1800 copies, is distributed via our real ale outlets. In addition, an interactive digital version is available on our website, with links also posted on social media platforms. 

In recent years, Full Pints has been recognised nationally as an exceptional publication. In 2012, it was named CAMRA’s “Most Improved Magazine”; in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2024, it was accorded the title “CAMRA National Magazine of the Year”.

CAMRA Calling is a monthly newsletter detailing branch events and activities sent to local members via the Comms Tool and uploaded to the branch website.

Ayrshire Real Ale Festival
Our beer festival is held annually during the first weekend in October. In recent years, it has expanded in area, covering not only the Concert Hall in Troon but also the Walker Hall along a short corridor. We offer approximately 140 real ales sourced from all parts of the UK and a healthy selection of ciders and perries.

Breweries
Within our branch area, there are six breweries. Three produce cask-conditioned ale: Arran Brewery in Brodick, Five Kingdoms in the Isle of Whithorn, and Seagate Brewery in Lamlash. Arran Botanical Drinks produces bottled live beer, as do Portpatrick Brewery and Wigtown Brewery, although production from the latter two is more sporadic.

Activities
Over the years, we have developed a range of activities beyond running the beer festival and producing the magazine.

We established four area social groups in North, South, and East Ayrshire, as well as Wigtownshire, which has greatly increased social activities within the branch, introduced a good number of new members, and improved member activation.

In recent years, our branch has regularly topped the number of participants involved in nominating beers for Champion Beer of Britain heats. Our members also conduct annual surveys of pubs for possible inclusion in the Good Beer Guide and to update WhatPub entries.

Like many CAMRA branches, we are concerned about our ageing membership and are keen for some of our more youthful members to become more involved in our activities.

Online Presence
To visit the branch website, click here.
To visit the branch’s Facebook page, click here.
To visit the festival website, click here.
To visit the festival’s Facebook page, click here.
To visit the branch’s Twitter page, click here. 
To visit the branch’s Instagram page, click here.

Updated on 17/03/2024

Dumfries and Stewartry is a sub branch of the neighbouring Solway branch and currently has over 120 members. We cover a large geographical area of South West Scotland, with many scattered villages and towns extending from Langholm, Canonbie, Gretna and Annan in the east, west to the towns of Kirkcudbright, New Galloway and St John’s Town of Dalry, north to Sanquhar, Wanlockhead and Moffat and South to Castle Douglas and the Solway coastal towns of Kippford and Carsethorn. Neighbouring branches are Ayrshire & Wigtownshire, Glasgow & West of Scotland, Edinburgh & South-East Scotland and Solway.

There are currently two breweries in the sub branch area – Sulwath Brewers at Castle Douglas, which has a popular tap room on the premises, and Borderlands Brewery in Langholm.

Online Presence
To visit the branch website click here.
To visit the branch’s Facebook page, click here.

Updated on 17/03/2024

The Edinburgh & South East Scotland branch of CAMRA was the second branch to be formed in Scotland in the latter part of 1975, shortly after the Glasgow & West of Scotland branch. At the time of the branch formation, only a small number of real ale outlets were known to the branch membership. At the last count, there are about 294. Right from the beginning, CAMRA meetings of various kinds were held throughout the branch area. Like many other branches in Scotland, our branch has always faced the challenge of dealing with a geographically large area, though also with the advantage of having the Scottish Capital within the branch area.

The City of Edinburgh has the highest population density within the branch and has proved to be particularly receptive to the expansion of real ale. Added to this are many high-quality outlets in the Lothians and Borders, including one former winner of the UK CAMRA Pub of the Year award. The branch area’s nature as an attraction for many visitors, together with the opportunities for employment in a number of professional areas of work, has resulted in a relatively healthy market. One of the consequences of this is the large number of pubs, bars, and hotels in the branch area that have become welcoming homes for an extensive range of real ales from Scottish microbreweries and further afield.

In the nineteenth century, Edinburgh was one of the leading brewing centres in the United Kingdom. With the recent closure of the historic Caledonian Brewery, no historic breweries are left in the city. The only surviving traditional brewery of significant size is at Dunbar, Belhaven Brewery, and there is also the revived historic brewery at Traquair House. There are now several micro to medium breweries within the branch area, including Alechemy at Livingston, Barney’s at Summerhall, the gluten-free Bellfield in Edinburgh, Broughton Ales at Broughton, Stewart Brewing at Loanhead, Tempest at Kelso and Born (Scottish Borders) at Lanton Mill, Jedburgh.

As mentioned previously, the branch covers a wide geographical area, from the Firth of Forth to the Scottish border. From the beginning, the branch has sought to keep in touch with its widely spread membership, not only by meetings of various kinds and e-letters but also with the twice-yearly free magazine Pints of View, aimed at a wider audience and delivered to a wide range of real ale outlets. Communications are further enhanced by an active branch website, including a well-used pub finder and, more recently, a Facebook page and an X account (@CAMRA_Edinburgh). There are around one thousand members, so it is probably as well that the entire branch membership does not attend the same meeting at the same pub at the same time.

The meetings range from regular formal branch meetings and monthly committee meetings to two-pub socials and various one-off activities such as a new member evening and trips outside the branch area. The active membership is also kept busy throughout the year, carrying out regular pub/beer surveys for the Good Beer Guide and WhatPub.com, together with the need to keep the branch pubs’ information current. The membership also updates pub details when distributing Pints of View.

Online Presence
To visit the branch website, click here.
To visit the branch’s Facebook page, click here.
To visit the branch’s Twitter page, click here.

Updated on 17/03/2024

Forth Valley Branch was formed in September 1976, and founder members were Jim Watson from Polmont and Geoff Ainslie from Stirling, amongst others. At the time, the only breweries in the branch area were Maclay’s and Ind Coope Alloa Brewery, both in Alloa and unfortunately now closed. Over the years, several breweries have produced some fantastic ales; however, since COVID-19, many of these have not survived. Today, the branch has seven breweries within its boundaries, with another in planning.

Stirling Real Ale Festival, the first run by the branch, started in 1980 and ran for ten years. Encouraged by the local council, Alloa Real Ale Festival started in May 1988 but ran out of steam after 21 years in 2008. However, the Alloa Winter Ale Festival started in October 1992 and is still going strong today. Occasional beer festivals are now run in conjunction with the branch, including the newly reprised Four Marys in Linlithgow. Other real ale festivals in the area include the Kinbuck Beer Festival (just outside Dunblane) and BRAAS Beer Festival based in Bo’ness Town Hall, promoted and run by the Corbie Inn, which was also Pub of the Year (PotY) 2023 in Forth Valley, to name but a few. Looking for something to replace the Alloa’ Mayfest’, the branch looked to an area devoid of real ale pubs and more south of the River Forth, Larbert. In 2009 Larbert Real Ale Festival was born in The Dobbie Hall and continues today. There is now a thriving real ale pub in Larbert, which continues to this day. We are now one of the only branches in Scotland that continue to host two real ale festivals per year.

In conjunction with CAMRA’s Mild in May campaign, a Mild Trail by Rail was started in 2011 along the Linlithgow – Dunblane rail line. Return tickets allow for a break of the journey on the return leg, with those making the trip taking full advantage of pubs close to Dunblane, Bridge of Allan, Stirling, Larbert, Falkirk and Linlithgow having milds on tap. Recently, we have introduced some variations within the rail trail to allow real ale lovers more choice to explore our more out-of-the-way pubs…..which is referred to as the Tilly Triangle, based in Tillicoultry. The Mild Trail fits with CAMRA’s Support Your Community Pub Campaign.

The first branch newsletter, BeerLines, was issued in autumn 1984. In addition, a Real Ale Guide to Forth Valley was published in the late 1980s and revised during the 1990s. Unfortunately, the ‘Firkin Forth Valley’ is no longer produced currently. However, the informative and fantastic visits our volunteers have made are now available on our website and included in our festival magazines.

Online Presence
To visit the branch website, click here.
To visit the branch’s Facebook page, click here.
To visit the branch’s X page, click here.

Updated on 17/03/2024

The Glasgow & West Scotland Branch was the first to be formed in Scotland. It covers most of the big population centres in west central Scotland as well as the Argyll and Bute council area, which has a number of small towns and scattered settlements.

Membership
The branch membership topped 1,000 for a few years before COVID-19 but has declined to just over 800 today. Most members (about 63%) are over 60 years old, which must give us some concern for the future.

Beer Festival
The Glasgow Real Ale Festival (G-RAF) has been running in its current form for the last decade, except for the COVID-19 years. This year’s G-RAF will be held in June at the Briggait, Glasgow’s one-time fish market, a wonderful, light exhibition space half a mile from the city centre.

Pubs
As you would expect, Glasgow is the centre of the real ale world for the branch and has a small number of stand-out pubs which regularly grace the pages of the Good Beer Guide, plus dozens of others that carry on the good fight as best they can, often in the face of an indifferent public. It is challenging to promote real ale in the old industrial towns of Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire. In some places, the only decent cask outlets are Wetherspoon’s pubs, though even these have diminished in number in the last decade.

In Argyll, Bute and the inner isles, the issue is not so much a shortage of outlets as planning and organising visits to them. There are some outstanding pubs in the area, but many require multiple bus and ferry journeys and possibly an overnight stay to visit. This makes it difficult to keep up with what’s happening in the area. Although we have a small number of local members, they are widely spread on the mainland from Appin in the north to Campbeltown in the south, a distance of 99 miles, as well as being based on islands such as Islay and Mull.

Breweries
As in most areas, the branch has seen an expansion of breweries in the last twenty years. Some of them, such as Fyne Ales and Loch Lomond breweries, have made a wide impact well beyond the area, as a visit to their brewery taps, where the walls are plastered with brewing awards, will testify.

Website and magazine
The branch has an informative website with a well-used beer finder, which has an up-to-date directory of pubs selling real ale. Unfortunately, our branch magazine has not appeared for some time, but we hope to revive it soon.

Online Presence
To visit the branch website, click here.
To visit the branch’s Facebook page, click here.
To visit the branch’s X page, click here.

Updated on 17/03/2024

In the beginning, the whole of the north of Scotland was run from Aberdeen, but as CAMRA expanded its membership, it was thought there was enough interest to form a separate Branch for the Highlands. On 8th January 1993, at a meeting at The Phoenix, the Inverness and Highlands Branch was formed under the auspices and with the driving force of Bill Tring as Chair. The initial area of the Branch was the Highlands and Islands, less Orkney & Shetland (which Aberdeen wanted to keep) and Fort William, Onich & Glencoe (which Glasgow was reluctant to let go). We were given full Branch status at a CAMRA meeting in Derby in October 1993. As time passed, the Lochaber area was released to us, and in November 2005, our Branch name was changed to Highlands and Western Isles.

Over the years, the Branch Committee has progressed through several iterations. It is currently run by a small, dispersed Committee with Officers as far apart as South Uist, Lochaber and Speyside. Committee meetings are usually held via Zoom, although we do get together for socials. Although the faces have changed, there is still the same die-hard enthusiasm to overcome the challenges faced by such a massive branch area (one and a half times the size of Wales, the largest in CAMRA and with the fewest members). However, like CAMRA nationally, our membership has declined over the last few years and with fewer than 200 members, finding volunteers to support the Committee has become more challenging.

Around 200 outlets sell real ale in our area, and many of these hostelries can be truly classed as unique, located in some extraordinary places like the Old Forge at Knoydart (only reachable by boat or an 18-mile rough hike) or the Eagle Barge, which is actually a boat on the Caledonian Canal. The breweries that have been working throughout most of the branch’s life are Isle of Skye, Black Isle, Cairngorm, and Cromarty, which have grown to cope with demand. Several micros have been added, including award-winning Ardgour, River Leven, Knoydart, Ewebrew, Applecross, and more. They are well worth seeking out.

The pub and brewery scene up here is as fluid as you might expect but with the added challenges of a weak historical association with ale (admittedly, it is a whisky country) and an extremely seasonal market (some hotels even close completely for the winter). We endeavour to publicise updates to Branch membership through a monthly Newsletter email, though this news relies on tip-offs from local members. The branch magazine, Gael Ale, and website give locals and visitors an insight into our branch and a list of real ale outlets, breweries, and diary information.

Online Presence
To visit the branch website, click here.

Updated on 17/03/2024

In the Beginning
For many years, Fife was divided between two CAMRA branches. The southern part of the Kingdom, including the area from the Forth Bridges through Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes, formed part of the Edinburgh & South East Scotland Branch, while the north and west of Fife came under the Tayside Branch.

Although local members regularly attended branch meetings, it soon became apparent that Fife’s pubs and drinkers would be better served by a dedicated local organisation. One of the driving forces behind this was Martin Butler, who proposed that Fife should seek full branch status rather than remain a sub-branch. At the time, it was widely believed there were too few volunteers to sustain an independent branch, but with growing local enthusiasm and support, this began to change.

Among those who played important roles during this period were Ken Davie, Martin Butler, Ken Broadbent, Matt Bald, Steve Darby, Jim Brande and Ewan Brande, alongside many other local volunteers whose enthusiasm helped establish CAMRA in the Kingdom of Fife.

Becoming an Independent Branch
Working closely with Colin Valentine, then Scottish National Director, local members developed plans for Fife to become an independent CAMRA branch.

A well-attended meeting at the Whey Pat Tavern in St Andrews during 1998 proved to be the turning point. At this meeting, it was agreed that the Kingdom of Fife would become a full CAMRA branch, bringing together the areas previously administered by the Edinburgh and Tayside branches.

Following approval, Ken Davie became the branch’s first Chairman, Martin Butler its first Secretary and Branch Contact, and Ken Broadbent its first Treasurer. This marked the beginning of the modern Kingdom of Fife CAMRA branch.

The First Fife Beer Festival
With the new branch established, plans were soon made for a beer festival. The opportunity arose when Frank, manager of the Rothes Halls in Glenrothes, approached Martin Butler about organising an event.

The inaugural Kingdom of Fife Beer Festival took place in 1999 in Hall B of the Rothes Halls. Supported by experienced volunteers from the Edinburgh branch, the festival was a success and returned a modest profit, proving there was strong local support for real ale in Fife.

The festival began life with the distinctive “Glenrothes Guzzle” logo – a small figure shaped like the letter “G” enjoying a pint – which remained associated with the festival for many years.

From these modest beginnings, the Kingdom of Fife Beer Festival grew into one of Scotland’s best-loved regional beer festivals, attracting thousands of visitors before its final event in 2019.

Growth of the Branch
Over the following decades, the branch continued to flourish, campaigning for better beer, supporting local pubs and encouraging the growth of brewing across Fife.

The county has transformed from having very few breweries to becoming home to a thriving independent brewing scene. The branch has also become well known for recognising excellence through its Pub of the Year, Cider Pub of the Year and Champion Beer competitions, as well as organising pub trails, social events and campaigning on behalf of local pubs.

Today
Today, the Kingdom of Fife branch represents over 250 CAMRA members and campaigns for real ale, cider, perry and the protection of pubs throughout the Kingdom.

Fife pubs have enjoyed considerable success in Scottish CAMRA competitions. The Hillend Tavern became Scottish Pub of the Year in 2023, following The Commercial Inn, Dunfermline, in 2022. Earlier winners include The Albert Tavern, Freuchie (2009 and 2010) and The Harbour Bar, Kirkcaldy (2000), all of which went on to represent Scotland in the National Pub of the Year competition.

The branch continues to build on the foundations laid by those early volunteers whose vision created an independent Kingdom of Fife CAMRA branch in the late 1990s.

Online Presence
To visit the branch website, click here.
To visit the festival’s Facebook page, click here.
To visit the branch’s X page, click here.

Updated on 02/07/2026

The Renfrewshire branch stretches from Inverkip to Busby and from Erskine to Eaglesham and has a wide range of real ale pubs, from traditional rural pubs to modern bars. The first-ever meeting of CAMRA in Scotland was held in the Renfrewshire branch area in the sadly long-deceased Golf Inn in Bishopton.

At the heart of the branch is Paisley, which may be most known for its weaving heritage and the world-famous Paisley Pattern. However, it has also earned the very deserved reputation of hosting the biggest (and best!!) beer festival in Scotland, which sadly has not taken place since COVID restrictions and the refurbishment of our traditional home in Paisley Town Hall. We have, however, still had a large presence at the annual Paisley Food and Drink Festival and are hopeful that we will be back in Paisley Town Hall before too long.

One of the most notable events in the beer festival’s history was back in its second year. Saturday, May 16th, 1987, was the day ‘The Saints’ brought the Scottish Cup back to the town hall—what a night that was! To honour their achievement, St Mirren F.C. was enrolled as a life member of CAMRA—possibly still the only football team to have this status.

There are three breweries in the branch area: Kelburn Brewing Company, based in Barrhead; Two Towns Down Brewing, which is the first brewery in Paisley in over 125 years; and Spectra Brewing.

Online Presence
To visit the branch’s Facebook page, click here.
To visit the branch’s X page, click here.

Tayside branch covers Dundee, Angus, and all of Perthshire & Kinross-shire – an area of approximately 3000 sq. miles. We have around 250 members, about 15 being active… enough to enable interesting bus and train trips to be arranged from time to time, visiting some of the 74 real ale establishments in the region and beyond. We hold monthly meetings and produce the magazine Hooked on Ale twice a year. There are currently 13 breweries in the area, from small craft breweries like Mòr to industrial-scale Innis & Gunn/Inveralmond.

Online Presence
To visit the branch website, click here.
To visit the branch’s Facebook page, click here.
To visit the branch’s X page, click here.

Updated on 17/03/2024