Branch News

Summer Pub Of The Season Award Presentation

Congratulations to Jo and team at the Cricketers in Horbury on being voted the Summer Pub Of The Season. The award was present in early September during a Kirkstall brewery event at the pub.

Published: 19 September 2026

The New O-K Issue 100 Now Available

It's a special issue as we reach the century mark. We take a look back at the some of the past issues. The Red Shed takes Club Of The Year and hosts our 50th Birthday Community Pub Award News and more... Download from here

Published: 05 September 2026

You're Being Lied To About British Beer

The status quo needs to go: Beer and pub campaigners want Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the UK beer market A new report, published by CAMRA, shows how independent brewers are being excluded from bars across the UK, and sets out the case for the Competition and Markets Authority action. ‘Beer in the UK’ is the authoritative consumer view on how the UK beer scene actually works, or doesn’t work, for beer drinkers and independent brewers. The report lays bare the stark state of British brewing – that it is dominated by four international conglomerates with little affinity with our brewing heritage, or what beer drinkers want.

Other headlines from the report include:

• Seven of the top ten selling ‘craft beers’ in the UK are made by just four global brewing conglomerates.
• Many of the UK’s favourite ‘continental’ and ‘import’ lagers are brewed in the UK.
• Data from the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) shows that the demand for independent beer is 280% higher than the share that they have of the pub market.

Ash Corbett-Collins, CAMRA Chairman said:

"Ordinary drinkers are being short changed when it comes to choice and quality at the bar. Our report proves how the global players are exploiting the status quo to squeeze out independent brewers, to the detriment of ordinary publicans and beer drinkers.

The Government needs to step up, start taking the issue seriously, and take action that matches up to their statements about supporting pubs and the communities they serve.

Andy Burnham recently said that ‘People need to be able to look forward to a night out’. The best way he can deliver on that is by ordering a proper market investigation to sort this mess out and deliver a fair deal for publicans and drinkers, and the independent brewers that they want to support.

If this report makes you as angry as it makes me, that’s good. CAMRA is fighting for changes to the status quo, and I hope you’ll join us and get involved."

Tim Webb, Report Editor, said:

"The fact that a narrow clique of multinational corporations dominates the UK brewing industry is a national embarrassment. They only make beers that suit their production facilities, ignoring the types that beer lovers want to drink. They do not know how to reverse beer’s downward spiral, make little profit, and brew nothing worth exporting. They cannot grow the UK economy.

The way that better, independent, brewers are excluded from the on-trade beer market is scandalous. Brewing is a business that competition authorities need to investigate, take apart, and reassemble, so the UK can return to playing a leading role in the world of beer."

Published: 31 August 2026

Double Award for Bradley Arms, North Featherstone

A very well attended double award ceremony took place at the community focused Bradley Arms, North Featherstone on Saturday 13th June. Landlady, Alison received the prestigious Wakefield Campaign for Real Ale ‘Tetley Dave Award’ on behalf of her late partner, Paul Windmill, who died in 2025 and also the ‘Spring Pub Of the Season’. Featherstone Born and Bred writer, poet, radio and television broadcaster Ian Clayton presented the Tetley Dave Award to Alison. It is the first time in the history of the award the Tetley Dave Award has been given posthumously. Mr Clayton said in his presentation speech, to the many CAMRA members present, that: ‘You’ve picked a good man for this award this year. I knew Paul as a welder, a rugby team mate, a brewer, a landlord and a dear friend and he was top class at all of those things.’ He added. ‘I can’t pay tribute to Paul on this occasion without paying tribute to Alison. She has been the stalwart of stalwarts, she was his partner in life as well as in business. She nursed him when ill health took over him at the same time as keeping the pub going, I don’t know how she did it. And since Paul died, she has continues his legacy here and the pub goes from strength to strength’. Mark Goodair, Wakefield CAMRA Chairperson, explained to the audience before handing over to Mr Clayton that the Tetley Dave Award is presented annually to a person who has gone ‘above and beyond’ over a long period of time to promote real ale. The award is named in memory of the legendary Dave Parker who was the landlord of the former Shoulder of Mutton, Methley Road, Castleford. Mr Clayton added: ‘Tetley Dave, of course, was a legendary character. Whenever the subject of local pub and beer culture comes up, his name is quoted’. Alison said, simply, ‘ Paul would have been so proud of this’ (with reference to the spectacular glass trophy). The day was made extra special, as Alison was also presented with the Certificate for the Spring Pub of the Season by Mr Goodair. The pub, located on Willow Lane East, dates back over 200 years. A multi room pub, in former farm house buildings, is steeped in social history. It has close links with the ‘Featherstone Massacre’ and was the place of the first speech by Cunninghame Graham on Workers Rights, in 1893. The inscription from Cunninghame Graham above the stone fireplace reads, ‘Revolutions are not made with rosewater’

Published: 16 June 2026

Club Of The Year Presentation

We awarded their prestigious Club of the Year Award to Wakefield Labour Club, affectionately known as the ‘Red Shed’ on the Saturday afternoon of the May (14th to 17th) Annual Charity East-West Beer Festival. The presentation was very well attended by ‘regulars and locals’ and many CAMRA members from the Wakefield District and further afield. The Club of the Year is determined by inviting all the 600 plus Wakefield CAMRA Members to vote for their first, second and third choices of clubs selling Cask Ales in Wakefield and the surrounding towns and villages. The Red Shed, on Vicarage Street South, serves 5 cask ales, always in top condition, by hand pumps. Preference is given when deciding on which beers to put on the bar to smaller and local breweries. The East -West Beer Festival had a total of 22 cask hand pump beers, with 11 each from either side of the Pennines. Russ Gaunt, Wakefield CAMRA Secretary, on presenting the Award to Matt Hallas, Club President, said: ‘Congratulations to the Red Shed for again winning the Club of the Year. The Red Shed is always a great and welcoming place to visit. It has always a good selection of well kept real ales.’ Matt said: ‘We have now won the Club of the Year for 15 years in a row. We are happy and proud to support Real[Cask] Ale in Wakefield,Yorkshire and nationally’. He added. ‘it has again been possible to win this award through a dedicated and hard working team and committee’. Linda Bratley, Club Secretary, added: ‘We are proud to be awarded CAMRA’s Club of the Year Award for 15 years running. Thank you to all our members and volunteers for their continued help and support the Committee and all the Bar Staff.’ Russ, concluded proceedings, by stating: ‘We look forward to a joint celebration of Wakefield CAMRA’s 50th Anniversary and the Red Shed’s 60th Anniversary, with a number of collaboration brews from our local breweries, over friday and Saturday, the 7th and 8th August’.

Published: 20 May 2026

Pub Of The Year Presentation

Our Pub Of the Year Award for 2025 was presented to Luis Bar at Fernendes in Wakefield City Centre at the end of April. It was congratulations and compliments all round to Liz and Howard Hughes, the Licensees at Luis Bar at the presentation full of locals, visitors and CAMRA members. It is the first time since 2007 that the pub has won the Pub Of the Year. The pub and brewery tap has been known as Luis Bar at Fernandes since 2021 following a major refurbishment with the bar moving to the lower of two floors. Mark Goodair (CAMRA Branch Chairperson) said: “We are here to present our 2025 Pub of the Year Award, it is the first time in 19 years that Fernandes has won the award and it’s quite an achievement. It is the only brew pub in the city centre which serves its own beers as well as from local, including the Five Towns and Tigertops, breweries. It is my pleasure to present this award to you Liz’. A jubilant Liz Hughes, said “Thank you to our amazing team (Gayle, Viki, Steve, Michael and Dawid). These guys make the pub. Thanks to you all for drinking the beer….thank you to everyone.’ Fernandes was founded in 1999 by David and Maureen James who sold it to Ossett Brewery in 2007. Fernandes is steeped in Brewing History, the building was an original 19th Century malthouse for Fernandes Old Bridge Brewery on Chantry Bridge and later the Beverley Eagle Brewery. Luis Fernandes, a Portuguese Immigrant, constructed the building in 1880s. Today, Luis Bar serves up to nine Cask Ales with all of the Fernandes beer brewed in the on site brewery situated in the cellar. The Pub Of the Year Award is the ‘end product’ of a detailed and thorough selection process where all Wakefield CAMRA members nominate pubs to draw up a short list of four pubs. Finally all members are invited to vote again to determine the Pub Of The Year from the short list. All the short listed pubs inevitably serve excellent Real Ale and have a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere to all their customers.

Published: 08 May 2026

Lost Cause Opens In Wakefield

We have a new brewery and tap in Wakefield with Lost Cause opening their new brewery in the centre of Wakefield. Lost Cause is run by Vik and Colin Stronge based at a site in Whitwood. This site remains open and will continue to run monthly socials the next one being April 24/25 with further ones planned up to August. The Wakefield Brewery & Taproom which is situated on Calder Vale Road (walk under the railway bridge at Kirkgate and take the first left) will be open from Thursday to Sunday each week.

Published: 19 April 2026

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