Welcome to the Central Manchester branch of CAMRA. Read below why you Must score your beers when in any pub!
Central Manchester CAMRA
Welcome to the Central Manchester Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale...
The Cider Pub of The Year 2026 is Marble Arch, presentation was made on 6th June to General manager Becky Holden by Branch Chair Sean 
And our Best Newcomer Award goes to Steelfish Brewing Company Taproom with the presentation om Thursday 25th June at 1900
Best newcomer 2026 award Steelfish Brewing Company Taproom with the presentation om Thursday 25th June at 1900.
Our Club of the Year (COTY) 2026 - our first ever entry! - is the FC United of Manchester Presenting the award is our Branch Chair Sean O'Mahoney to Jim Brunt who is a actually a CAMRA Member from Kirklees Branch!
Campaigns
Marble Arch. URGENT - Objection period to Manchester City Council remains open until 10th June 2026! Following a public consultation by the developers, McGoff, that they seem to have ignored, a planning application has been put in. Little surprise that they still intend to build a 17 storey apartment block within 3 meters of the Marble Arch (MA).
This revised plan removes a substantial area of high quality landscaped public land. The developers also argue that buildings have always abutted the MA omitting, of course, that those buildings were of a 2 storey nature! Planning Policy is that any new building should have 20% affordable housing. But of course if the developers provide that they will return a -5% loss. So what say we! They knew what they were getting into from the start! Manchester City Council has a target of a 5 year supply of housing yet already has a 7.5 year supply! More unwanted/needed high rise apartments!
There is also concern that the necessary foundation works required with pile driving etc., will damage the structure of the MA. The developers have failed to provide any impact assessment of this work on the 138 year old listed building!
The developers stated that the public and the MA had from 14th May notification to them, till the 27th May! Somewhat short on the 21 day statutory period for comments. This is obviously a form of bullying by the developers! The Council have now said, following objections by the MA, the MA have till the 10th June to submit comments but there is concern that this will not include an extension for members of the general public.
We urge you to support the MA in its quest to have this scheme abandoned or drastically changed! After all if the developer stands to lose “5% loss on investment” then why bother at all! The main application is here:
https://arcusbe.manchester.gov.uk/pr/s/detail/a1DSl000007GOGYMA4
The application to vary the existing permissions is here: https://arcusbe.manchester.gov.uk/pr/s/detail/a1DSl000007GPyDMAW
There is a guide to commenting on applications here:
We will advise of any further campaigning needs
Pubs Guide
Finding Real Ale and Real Cider and Perry in Central Manchester
Follow our Pub Information and Pubs News Pub Information and News
Map of Manchester Brewery Taps (provided by former Branch member Steve Dunkley) https://greatermanchester.camra.org.uk/brewery-taps/
Cider and Perry
Real Cider and Perry #NotFromConcentrate
Central Manchester CAMRA helped form the Cider Club in 2019.
The Manchester Cider Club continues to meet monthly on the 2nd Thursday of the month at our new home at Balance Brewing & Blending Taproom Get your tickets for future events from Cat in the Glass. Tickets and regular information about the Cider club can be found from: https://thecatintheglass.co.uk/product/february-9th-mcr-cider-club/
Cider Pub of the Year 2026 is: Marble Arch
New ratings for cask beer scoring
CAMRA has introduced a new scoring system - use the link above for more information. Like most branches we use the beer scoring system to help us decide which of our pubs goes into the Good Beer Guide each year. Therefore, please score your beers every time you drink one! And Cheers!
Branch boundaries of CAMRA Branches
Boundaries of all CAMRA Branches in the UK.
This is a work in progress and will slowly be built up
Greater Manchester CAMRA is now part of the North West Region of CAMRA and has such become an Area within that new Region.
Find out what is going on in the new Region? - North West Region of CAMRA
Changing your branch communications
When you first join CAMRA, you’re membership will be allocated to a local branch according to your postcode. This will usually be the branch who’s area you live in, but occasionally due to the way postcodes don’t always follow branch boundaries, it may be a neighbouring branch.
If you are not receiving e-mails from your local branch, you may be opted out of branch communication. Click here to find out how to change your communication preferences.
If you live near the edges of a branch area or some distance from the main centre of the branch, your local branch may not be the most convenient for attending meetings or social events.
You have two options to find out about another branch’s activities.
a) Move your membership To change your primary branch to another branch, e-mail ku.gro.armac@pihsrebmem including your membership number, your current branch and the name of the branch you want to move your membership to.
b) Subscribe to other branch’s communications To do this you need to log in to the CAMRA website at camra.org.uk