History of North Manchester CAMRA

A short history of the North Manchester Branch of CAMRA

Foundation

The Branch was founded in February 1974, following an informal gathering of over 80 members the previous month. In its early days the main meeting place was the Lord Nelson at Ringley.

Branch Area

In 1974 we covered most of the northern part of Greater Manchester County. Fairly soon, Rochdale, Oldham & Bury and then Bolton branches were formed. Since then, we are responsible for the whole of Metropolitan Salford (Salford, Swinton, Worsley, Eccles, Irlam and Cadishead), plus the north western part of Metropolitan Manchester.

Manchester City Centre

We are one of three branches who cover the City, including the famous "Northern Quarter". In July 1981 we "gave" some of our pubs (between the Irwell and Deansgate) to Trafford & Hulme. The third branch is Stockport & South Manchester.

Pub Preservation

The Branch successfully proposed a motion at an early CAMRA National AGM which placed this item on an equal footing with real ale as a campaign priority. Since then we have had a history of fighting closures of particular pubs, several of which are still trading today. We were recently involved in a Compulsory Purchase Order Inquiry into the purchase and possible demolition of two Ancoats pubs.

Beer Festivals

Although we ran several successful beer festivals in our early years, we do not have our own regular branch festival. Our members though have played a major role in the organisation and staffing of the Great North Western beer festival which used to be held in Bolton, and of course we are fully involved in the National Winter Ales Festival, which is held at the Co-op's New Century Hall right here in Manchester.

Branch Newsletter

The branch has published its own newsletter, What's Doing, in an unbroken production run every month since 1975, which we believe to be a record. We are currently up to issue number 353 (March 2005).

Local Pub Guides

Since we began we have published, singly or in co-operation with other branches, eight Central Manchester guides, a Salford guide, three County guides and two selective guides. In particular, in recent years we have taken responsibility, with the agreement of the other two branches, for Manchester Centre Guides, having produced four in the last ten years.

Many thanks to Pete Cash, a long time branch member, for this account.

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This page was last updated on 25th March 2005