Branch 50th Anniversary
Celebrating 50 years
Fifty years ago this month (25th April 1974) the Croydon branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) held its initial meeting at the Horse & Groom in Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon (The pub was renamed the Glamorgan following a spell known as the Grouse & Claret). Unfortunately, the building is now forlorn and empty.
In the first year of the branch, meetings were also held at the Newton Arms in Croydon, the Two Brewers in Selhurst, the New Town in Sutton, the Greyhound in Carshalton, the Stag & Hounds in Croydon and the Shirley Poppy in Shirley.
Out of area visits to the Derby Arms in Epsom Downs and the Nutley Hall in Reigate also took place.
Only three of these pubs remain open.
The ‘and Sutton’ part was added to the branch title in 1975.
The first edition of Real Beer in London was published in May 1974. A copy of this is available on the CAMRA London website.
Of the local pubs included in that guide, 15 remain open with cask beer still available; a further five are open but without cask. We intend to visit all 15 of these pubs over the course of the year; dates will be fixed later.
In 1974 beer was predominately supplied by two breweries – Charrington and Young's. One pub supplied beer from Fuller Smith & Turner (Royal Standard) and one pub from Shepherd Neame (Two Brewers). Both of these pubs are still open with beer from the same breweries. The only other brewer represented was Whitbread at the long closed New Inn Sutton.
There were no free houses, the vast majority of the pubs were owned and supplied by one brewer.
Fifty years later we have more pubs that remain open and have cask beer but many have only the product of a few multi-national brewers. Let us celebrate the pubs which sell beer from smaller producers both near and far, as well as the long established pubs.
The 15 pubs are: (those in bold were also in the 1974 Good Beer Guide).Plough Beddington
Coach & Horses Carshalton
Greyhound Carshalton
Builders Arms Croydon
Dog & Bull Croydon
Royal Standard Croydon
Two Brewers Selhurst
Surprise Shirley
Little Windsor [was Windsor Castle] Sutton
Lord Nelson Sutton
Robin Hood Sutton
Railway Telegraph Thornton Heath
Royal Albert Upper Norwood
White Hart Upper Norwood
Dukes Head Wallington
The first of our 50th anniversary presentations to pubs which were selling cask ale in 1974 and are still selling cask in 2024. On 5 June branch chair David Lands presented the certificate to the Dog & Bull Croydon.
The second of our 50th anniversary presentations to pubs. Also on 5 June branch chair David Lands presented the certificate to the Royal Standard, Croydon.
On 12 June we presented certificates to two pubs in Sutton which sold cask ale in 1974 and still are in 2024. David Lands, branch chair, presented the certificate to the Lord Nelson (first picture below) and to the Little Windsor (second picture).
Another of our 50th anniversary presentations. Branch chair David Lands presented the certificate to Bernie, landlord of the Royal Albert, Upper Norwood, for selling cask ale in 1974 and in 2024.
On 8 August we made another 50th anniversary presentation. Branch webmaster Steve Thompson presented the certificate to Danny Foley, landlord of the Two Brewers, Selhurst, for selling cask ale in 1974 and in 2024.
On 15 August we held our branch's 50th anniversary celebration at the Hope, Carshalton. Thank you to Lorraine Gray and Cathy Bone for organising the event, and thanks too to Mark from the Hope for coming in on his day off to serve Drop Project Crush and Anspach & Hobday The Ordinary Bitter from casks in the marquee.
On 21 August we made two 50 years presentations in Carshalton. Branch chair David Lands presented certificates to Colum and Anne-Marie at the Greyhound Hotel (first picture below) and to Sam of the Coach & Horses (second picture).
On 11 September we presented a 50 years certificate to the Surprise, Shirley. Steve Thompson, branch webmaster, is shown presenting the certificate.
Another of our 50th anniversary presentations. On 18 September branch chair David Lands presented the certificate to Cathy of the Builders Arms for selling cask ale in 1974 and in 2024.
Our next 50th anniversary presentation took place on 3 October. Branch chair David Lands presented the certificate to the Railway Telegraph for selling cask ale in 1974 and in 2024.
Continuing our 50th anniversary presentations, on 6 November, branch chair David Lands presented the certificate to Steve of the Robin Hood, Sutton, for selling cask ale in 1974 and in 2024.
Another of of our 50th anniversary presentations. On 21 November, we gave the certificate to the White Hart, Crystal Palace for selling cask ale in 1974 and in 2024. Although the manager was not present, we spoke to a member of the bar staff and it was good to see 3 cask ales (Gipsy Hill Hepcat out of the photo).
On 5 December we made the final two 50th anniversary presentations. First photo: Branch secretary John Butler (left) presented the certificate to Don of the Plough, Beddington, for selling cask ale in 1974 and in 2024. Then we visited the Dukes Head Hotel, Wallington, where Roger Ford, branch social secretary, presented the certificate to the manager, Natalie.