On Saturday 13th June 2026, members of the West Cumbria Branch of CAMRA presented Seth's Bar on Market Place, Cockermouth with the Pub of the Season award.

This recognises the fact that Emily Hartley and her staff run a free house that serves real ale in tip top condition.

Seth's Bar is housed in a building built in 1761 which years ago used to be The Sun Inn on what used to be the main road into the town from the east.

Historically, there used to be a theatre at the rear of this building, with records showing that performances dated back to 1775.

Following the closure of the The Sun Inn, the building became an antique shop, before reverting back to a public house named Bar 1761.

It was named Seth's Bar about 10 years ago.

Pictured here from left to right are Emily, Daisy, Lily and Fran, with the Pub of the Season certificate partially obscured behind the Corby Lakeland Summit ale handpump !

(Information submitted by Len Wainwright, committee member)

The Crooked River Brewing Co, which has a taproom in Packhorse Court, Keswick, was recently awarded Silver in the competition for Best Bitter at the CAMRA Liverpool Beer Festival. This was a Champion Beer of Britain area award.

The Liverpool Beer Festival is held in the historic crypt of the Metropolitan Catholic Cathedral in the heart of this iconic city.

The certificate was presented in their Keswick taproom by West Cumbria branch committee member, Stephen Walker,. on the left in the photo. In the centre is Richard Leadbitter, Sales Manager and on the right is Crooked River Director, Phil Scholey.

Phil Scholey is quoted as saying :

'As a brewery that genuinly cares about traditional beer styles and quality cask ale, recognition by CAMRA means an awful lot to us. We've always wanted to create beers that feel at home in Cumbria and that can hold their heads up against national competition. We are incredibly proud of the award at LIverpool CAMRA beer festival.'

Based at Calva Brow, Workington the Crooked River Brewery Company was founded in 2022 by Phil Scholey and Alan Crellin and a few months later they teamed up with brewery owners Graeme and Rachel Mitchell of Tractor Shed Brewery, with the ownership of the Tractor Shed Brewery eventually passing to Crooked River when Graeme and Rachel retired in 2025.

In addition to the taproom in Keswick, Crooked River also have a beer shop in Cockermouth.

(Information and photo supplied by West Cumbria CAMRA committee member Len Wainwright)

Keswick Brewery celebrates 20 glorious years at a special brewery social between 12-8pm on Saturday 25th April at their Fox Tap Bar and outside drinking area.

Two new real ales are being launched at this event : A Double India Pale Ale (7.6%) and a Pale Ale (3.8%) Names to be revealed on the day.

Authentic Nepalese curries will be available and Graham Bell is performing live music between 4-6pm.

The West Cumbria branch of CAMRA wishes to say congratulations and a big thank you to owner Sue Jefferson and her amazing team at the brewery.

Owner Sue Jefferson writes :

'There is lots to celebrate ! Our first brew was in 2006 on the site of the Old Keswick Brewing Company, which brewed on this site over 130 years ago. The Keswick Brewery has won many awards in the last two decades, including National Gold beer awards.

We continue to reinvent ourselves, with regular new recipe beers, a recent new lager plus a gluten free range of beers.

The brewery was extended in 2019 to make provision for the Fox Tap bar and beer garden area. And there are regular brewery social events.

2026 seemed a perfect time to launch some new brews, including Goldscope and Mary's Mash. Goldscope is a 4.1% real ale using 3 different NZ hops and is named after a long gone local copper and lead mine.

Mary's Mash has a personal connection as I wanted to brew a Stout beer in memory of my late Grandma.

There are two special beers being launched on our 20th birthday, one of which is called Big Sue, named by my staff. This full bodied double IPA is packed with NZ Southern Cross, Pacific Gem and Riwaka hops, alongside another ale called Little Sue at 3.8%.

So Saturday 25th April is party day at the brewery. Along with the beer there will be live music by Graham Bell and authentic Nepalese street food by Katvandu.

No admission charge !

Hope to see you there.

Cheers !

Sue’

The Masons Arms in Gilcrux has been judged as the branch Pub of the Year 2026. The branch will be presenting the pub with a certificate on Saturday 2nd May. The pub will now be judged for the Cumbria POTY alongside the Milbourne Arms, Carlisle and The Swan, Ulverston

The price of handpulled beers at Jennings brewery tap bar have been reduced to £3.50 a pint on weekdays between 2 and 7pm.

This includes Snecklifter, 5.1%.