Thankyou to all the members that attended our AGM on the 8th November. There was a very good attendance and everyone seemed to enjoy the evening. Special thanks to Julian at the Hallcross for providing a room, an excellent buffet and, for some, a challenging quiz. Thanks also to Kate for organising a raffle and to those members that provided prizes. Thanks to the committee members who provided reports and to the chairman for keeping everybody in order (not that there was any disorder). We are now looking forward to another year of branch activities and socials. Look out for news of a significant event in the Sir Nigel Gresley square in the city centre from the 2nd to 4th May. This will include a real ale beer festival and the branch will be assisting the organising and operating of it. We will be looking for members to assist in doing this so let us know by emailing your details to donnydrinker@doncaster.camra.org if you can help. Also let us know if you can help with delivering Donny Drinker magazines to pubs in our area.

The Wheatsheaf at Armthorpe has informed us that they will no longer selling real ale. This means in recent years Armthorpe pubs selling real ale have reduced from 3 to 1.

The Great British Beer Festival is back and better than ever! We’re thrilled to announce that the UK’s flagship beer festival will return from 5 – 9 August 2025 with an exciting new look and an incredible new venue – NEC Birmingham!  The Great British Beer Festival 2025 promises to be bigger, better, and more interactive than ever. We’ll be bringing you the best in British and international brewing all under one roof. Expect an array of hundreds of beers, alongside real ciders, perries, and even a cocktail bar for those looking to mix things up.  There will be plenty of entertainment, delicious food, pub-style games, our Discovery Bar and more experiences like never before.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is pleased to announce Ash Corbett-Collins has been appointed as its new Chairman.  An election took place at a meeting of the Campaign’s National Executive in Cumbria over the weekend.  Vice Chairman since last November, Ash Corbett-Collins is a long-standing National Executive member who was first elected to the Board of the Campaign in 2018.  

It’s Cask Ale Week from the 19th to 29th September.

The Doncaster Free Press has reported a serious fire has occurred at the Marr Lodge in Marr. Recent reports indicate the owners predict the pub will not be re-opened in the foreseeable future.

They are holding a ‘Meet the Brewer’ evening on Friday, 1st November. The brewer is Stancill Brewery.

Following visits the following beers on sale have been reported: Ivanhoe (Sprotborough) – Dark Mild, Newton (Sprotborough) – Doom Bar, Maple Tree (Balby) – Pedigree and Hobgoblin.

Congratulations to a pub that regularly advertises in Donny Drinker. The 3 B’s pub in Bridlington was put forward by the CAMRA Yorkshire Region as their entry for National Pub of the Year. Unfortunately, they did not win, losing out to the Tamworth Tap in Tamworth which won for the 2nd consecutive time.

We have been informed by the landlord that they will no longer be selling real ale.