Real Ale in Rotherham 

Note : For Real Ale Offers  -  look at our CAMRA members local Real Ale offers page 

History of Rotherham Camra 

The origins of the branch stemmed from a meeting of mainly railway workers in July 1992 at the Bridge Inn Rotherham,

At this timeline Rotherham area pubs serving real ale were part of the Sheffield Camra branch. A number of members due to logistical problems attending meeting and socials.

 Consequently, a steering committee was formed with Rotherham camra members.

One year later coincidently the first Rotherham Oakwood School Real Ale and Music festival took place to raise funds for the school. The Rotherham camra steering group ran a stall at this first Oakwood beer festival to promote the idea of a separate Rotherham Camra branch.

A real ale newsletter “Rotherham Ale” was available at the festival and a few local pubs.

A further meeting of the steering group was held at the Bridge and the idea of a Rotherham Camra branch was launched with approval of the Sheffield branch. at this time the membership was 50 ten years later the 300 mark was past and now 2024 the over 770 members. Look at our last meeting minutes for up to date branch mebership numbers.

 Rotherham members were involved with the Oakwood festival, and this continued with the Magna Real Ale festival launched in 2011.

The branch had long discussed setting up of its own Camra beer festival, this became a reality in 2012 when the New York Beer Festival opened at New York Stadium.

Over the years, many memorable campaigning and social events have been organised by the social secretaries, and joint events including Southport, Sheffield, Chesterfield, Doncaster and Barnsley.