LocAle is a nationwide CAMRA campaign to encourage pubs to stock at least one locally-brewed real ale, of acceptable quality.

The concept of LocAle was developed by the Nottingham branch of CAMRA, following the takeover and subsequent closure of the Hardy's and Hanson's brewery in Kimberley, near Nottingham, by Greene King.

Beer was being brewed in Suffolk and transported to Nottinghamshire; not only was the beer no longer local, but the number of miles travelled to deliver the beer was not friendly to the environment.

The experience in Nottingham has been very positive, and now many more pubs there sell beers from local brewers. Pub goers also like to see pubs selling a local beer, even if they are not real ale (or even beer) drinkers.

LocAle in Berkshire South-East Branch

Here in Berkshire South-East we have a number of breweries which, although not right on our doorstep, we can easily classify as local. For our branch purposes, we have defined “local” to mean within 25 miles driving distance from the centre of our branch in Bracknell.

We now have an increseasing number of pubs in our area regularly selling beers from these local brewers. But there are still plenty more yet to participate in the LocAle campaign.

We wish to accredit more pubs under the LocAle scheme that are selling locally-brewed beers, of good quality. We want to help promote LocAle, by campaigning for pubs to stock a local beer, and to provide point of sale material in support of this.

But it is also down to you, the drinker, to make your voice known about local beers. Ask the licensee at your local to try and obtain a beer from one of the breweries listed on this page – many will be very pleased to supply if they are allowed! And, if your local pub DOES put one of these fine ales on, please let us know. The best way to do this is to contact the Branch LocAle Coordinator. We can then publicise the fact in our branch magazine and on this website.