Gwynedd a Môn Branch Meeting at The Anglesey Arms Hotel Mona Road, Menai Bridge 17th January 2026

Welcome Clive welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Officers reports: Chair - Clive reported that several members attended Bragdy Lleu, Penygroes, on 9th January to present Gareth with the award for Brewery of the Year for Gwynedd a Môn Branch. He was thrilled to receive the award which came as a complete surprise to him. A good evening was had by all who attended.

Slaters Arms, Corris has now been transferred into our branch but was in West Wales Area on Pubzilla. Clive contacted Peter Horn who has resolved this issue and it is now in North West Wales. John Gale from Bae Ceredigion Branch has said the Branch want to wait until better weather before a joint social is arranged. After the last meeting several members visited Stori, Bala. The bar is still operating as normal and supplying cask beer around the region. Graham Haslock has been appointed as the Clubs Coordinator for Wales. Graham has sent a survey to be completed. Nico was asked to complete this and return on behalf of the Branch. Many clubs in our Branch are not included in Pubzilla and CAMRA website. Comms to be sent out to members to ask them to contact the Branch Contact with names of clubs that are serving real ale in our area. Clive spoke about the need for all members to lobby our MS’s in respect of the changes to the budget which will remove the business rates relief for pubs in April. A Wales Business Rates Toolkit is available on the CAMRA website. Use this link. https://orlo.uk/K3DwQ to lobby your MS. Comms to be sent out to members to encourage them to do this before April.

Secretary - Nico informed us that in 2014 a motion was passed at Conference agreeing that membership forms should be printed in Welsh. This is not happening. Nico was asked to email Ash Corbett- Collins to ask why this isn’t happening. Clive is to revise the original motion and send it to the committee for comments. He will then submit to CAMRA before the Conference motions deadline.

Treasurer - Don reported that all outstanding expenses have been paid, COBAS is up to date.

Pubs Officer - Cemlyn informed us that Penbont Inn, Llanrug is closed and up for sale. The local Community Council have been asked to identify land suitable for building so the future is uncertain. The Eagles in Caernarfon has reopened. The Liverpool Arms, Menai Bridge is currently closed due to health issues. It should be opening again soon. The lease is being marketed so again the future is uncertain. Cemlyn is getting pub updates through Pubzilla. The Ship and Castle in Caernarfon has reopened. There was no real ale there at Christmas. The Bull in Bethesda usually has one real ale on. The Crown at Aberffraw has reopened and usually has one real ale on.

Ty Mawr, Llanbedr is not up for sale. Janet and Dorian are hoping that the sale of Myrddins will have gone through by the end of February. Clive suggested we try and have a social there before the pub changes hands.

Social Secretary - Don reported that he has sent Comms as requested, updated the website and put future meetings on CAMRA’s events page. Comms reach 98 members in our branch. Membership Secretary - Dafydd reported that membership stands at 131. Nico has been distributing membership forms and beer mats. Vice Chair - Julie has received a response from Jane Dodds (MS-Welsh Liberal Democrats), regarding the removal of business rates relief. Jane has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance urging him to think again about the proposals to reduce business rate relief for pubs and for the levels to stay in place until a long term solution is introduced.

PotY, CPotY and CotY - We have four nominations for Pub of the Year. Clive has asked that the pubs are judged according to CAMRA criteria. All surveying to be completed by the March meeting.

Cider Pub of the Year - Stori, Bala has been nominated. Comms to be sent asking members for further nominations before the next meeting. Club of the Year - Nominations received for Nefyn Golf Club and Porthmadog Golf Club. Comms to be sent asking members for further nominations before the next meeting. Good Beer Guide 2027 Discussion took place regarding 15 pubs that had been identified as being possible contenders for the Good Beer Guide. Members fed back findings from their surveys. A further four pubs were identified for consideration. Members asked to continue to survey the identified pubs and to give feedback at the next meeting. Any other Business Proposals for changes to the Road Traffic Act in terms of alcohol limit could have implications for rural pubs. The date of the Wales Regional meeting has been changed to 7th February 2026.

Chester Beer Festival takes place on 5-6th June at the Town Hall. Liverpool Beer Festival takes place on 19th - 22nd February at the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Date and Venues of future meetings. Branch Meetings Thursday 19th February. Queens Hotel, Harlech. 7pm Tuesday 3rd March. Patricks, Bangor. 6pm (CHANGE OF DATE) Friday 17th April. Robin Hood, St Albans. 7pm. Branch Socials Regional Meeting. 7th February. The Coracle, Camarthen. 1pm.

Request to all members.

We are asking all members to inform the branch contact of any clubs in our area that are serving real ale.

We are urging members to lobby MS’s re business rates relief for pubs.

We are asking all members for nominations for Cider Pub of the Year and Club of the Year before 19th February 2026.

Thank you for your continued support to CAMRA

And a belated HAPPY NEW YEAR.