CAMRA LocAle is about supporting pubs that sell locally-brewed real ales as well as supporting local breweries, and reducing the number of "beer miles". The scheme builds on a growing consumer demand for quality local products.

Look out for the CAMRA LocAle logo displayed at the pub where you are drinking.

Local breweries are often run by local people who (of course) drink in the local pubs themselves and consequently have a much closer understanding of their market. In recent years the number of microbreweries in Cheshire has snowballed to more than 25.

The benefits of a successful CAMRA LocAle scheme are:-

• Improved consumer choice due to more locally brewed real ales being available in pubs
• Local brewers selling more real ale allowing them to expand, benefiting the local economy and real ale choice
• Fewer "beer miles" resulting in less road congestion and pollution
• An increase in tourism as successful local brewers give the area greater distinctiveness and therefore tourist appeal
• Thriving pubs due to the wider availability of local real ales in pubs boosting the number of pub visits
• An increase in local identity and pride

In short, CAMRA LocAle is about consumer choice, local jobs, supporting a sustainable environment, creating local distinctiveness and promoting local pubs.

North Cheshire's criteria for LocAle are that the pub has to serve at least one *local beer on sale all the time (*from within 30 miles by road, measured as the shortest driving distance between pub and brewery). The beer may change, save for rare occasions when no beer is available. The beers served also need to be of a consistent quality that CAMRA would support. So real ales from regional, national and microbreweries could all qualify if they meet the criteria.

You may not agree with this definition but for this purpose we needed something clear and precise.

Each pub is reviewed annually to ensure it is still meeting the criteria (including ongoing beer quality), in which case accreditation will be extended for a further 12 months.

You can recognize a LocAle pub by the publicity material normally on display often including LocAle labels on handpumps.

LocAle Guide

Click to see the North Cheshire CAMRA LocAle Pub & Club Guide