Cheers! Wolverhampton group championing real ale celebrates 50 years
The group met on Saturday (November 7) at Springbanks Brewery to share memories and celebrate the milestone.
Wolverhampton CAMRA has celebrated its 50 year anniversary after it began in November 1976.
The Wolverhampton branch of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) was officially established at a meeting at the Clarendon Hotel in Chapel Ash on November 25, following earlier local festival roots at West Park in 1975 and the Wulfrun Hall in 1976.
The group met on Saturday (November 7) at Springbanks Brewery to share memories and celebrate the milestone.
Dave Clare, aged 80, a founding member of the Wolverhampton CAMRA said: “There were only around 20 of us at that first meeting we had.
“We tried to launch it the year before but only myself and one other person signed up to help launch it so instead we started in 1976.
“My favourite beer from 50 years ago was Hanson’s mild.”
Over the years the Wolverhampton branch has campaigned against pub and brewery closures, encouraged publicans to stock real ale and rewarded pubs with the annual pub of the year award.
The 2026 winner of the Wolverhampton city pub of the year was The Vine Inn, Wednesfield.
Dave also discussed the closure of Banks’s brewery, saying: “It was the biggest real ale brewery in the world so to see that go was a big shock, but the real ale industry is still going strong.”
The branch is currently building an archive based on the history of Wolverhampton CAMRA.
A spokesperson from CAMRA said: “If you have any information or photographs, whether Pub of the Year awards, pre-2010 festival glasses or promotional material, we want to hear from you! Please email us at [email protected].”
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