Bristol and District

News

  • Shield and Dagger in Whitchurch Reopening Friday 7 November 2025

    The Shield & Dagger: Good news for Whitchurch. The pub on East Dundry Road is reopening under new management (Brendan & Lisa) after a full makeover. They are hosting a relaunch party this Friday, November 7th, from 7:30pm with live music and samples from their new pizza menu.

    “Join Brendan & Lisa and the team for an evening of celebration, great music, and community spirit as we officially reopen our doors.”

    There will be live music, samples of the new pizza menu and, of course, plenty to drink.

    Fancy a pint of cask? Our three handpulls offer changing ales, with a spotlight on our local breweries, you can be sure to enjoy a proper pint with us.

    https://www.shieldanddagger.co.uk/


  • Good Chemistry Brewing finds new owners in World Famous Dive Bars Ltd Thursday 9 October 2025

    Good Chemistry Brewing finds new owners in World Famous Dive Bars Ltd.

    Bristol, UK - 8 October 2025 - Contact: moc.dtlbdfw@selim.

    World Famous Dive Bars today announced it has agreed to acquire Bristol brewery Good Chemistry Brewing, bringing one of the city's best-known independent breweries into the World Famous family. The acquisition will take effect later this month, with current Good Chemistry operations continuing from their St Philips' base and the brewery's team, brands and taproom to remain in place as the businesses begin an exciting new chapter together.

    Good Chemistry Brewing has been a fixture on Bristol's beer scene since 2015, operating a brewery, occasional taproom and a small portfolio of local pubs while building a reputation for collaborative, community-minded brewing. The deal involves the brewery, its production facilities & taproom, but the pubs will remain in the hands of Good Chemistry's founders, Kelly Sidgwick & Bob Cary.

    World Famous Dive Bars, a long standing Bristol hospitality group with a portfolio of well loved venues and a DIY, music-forward ethos, will operate Good Chemistry as a distinct brewing arm within its wider group while investing in capacity, route-to-market and local outreach to help the brewery grow.

    "We've always admired what Good Chemistry has done for Bristol's independent beer culture - great recipes, genuine community ties and an obvious care for sustainability and quality," said Marc Griffiths, one of the Directors of World Famous Dive Bars. "Our plan is simple: keep everything that makes Good Chemistry special, and back it so it can reach more locals, pubs and beer lovers across the city and beyond."

    "We've worked with WFDB for a number of years supplying their venues with our beer, so it's great to see them investing in the brewing side of the industry. We wish them all the best with Good Chemistry and are excited to see what they will achieve as it heads into its second decade," said Kelly Sidgwick, co-founder of Good Chemistry. "Bob and I would like to thank everyone who has helped us get the business to where it is today, and we hope Bristol's venues and beer drinkers will continue to support this independent local business."

    Good Chemistry's co-founders publicly announced in September that they would be stepping away from the business after building the brewery over the past decade; the acquisition provides continuity for staff and customers while opening opportunities for reinvestment and growth.

    Under the terms of the agreement, Good Chemistry's brewing operations, can shop and East Bristol premises will remain active, and World Famous Dive Bars has committed to maintaining the brewery's existing relationships with Bristol venues and independent retailers. The companies will work together in the coming months to expand the brewery's distribution, develop collaborative taproom events and strengthen Good Chemistry's role as part of the wider Bristol craft beer scene.

    **ENDS**

    Good Chemistry Brewing was set up by Bob Cary and Kelly Sidgwick to create good chemistry in its broadest sense – not just in the quality of the beer they produce, but using that to allow them to celebrate community and relationships across science, the arts, music, food, and social experiences, as well as beer & brewing. They have been up and running in their St Philips brewery since 2015, opened their first pub, The Good Measure, in Redland in December 2018, and their second, the beautiful and historic Kings Head, in central Bristol in November 2022. In addition to serving Bristol drinkers on draught and in can, Good Chemistry is increasingly reaching further afield. All their beers are suitable for vegans.

    World Famous Dive Bars Ltd. isn't a chain, it's a scrappy Bristol outfit run by Marc Griffiths and Patrick Daly. We don't do velvet ropes or £15 cocktails - we do bars that actually feel like bars. Pubs where the lights are a bit too low, the music is loud, and the floor's seen better days, but you'll always find a good pint, a good price, and a crowd that feels like home. We've made our name by backing local music, giving a damn about the community, and keeping the bullshit out. Bristol knows us because we're not trying to be anything other than what we are: nights worth remembering (and some worth forgetting).


  • 25% off cask beers in Greene King Pubs Sunday 5 October 2025

    Just show your membership card at the bar.


  • Champion Beer Of Britain Award Nominations are now Open Thursday 2 October 2025

    The Champion Beer of Britain is one of the most prestigious beer competitions in the world. It is the ultimate honour for UK brewers and has helped put many into the national spotlight.

    Vote now to choose Britain’s Champion Beer!

    https://cbob.camra.org.uk/login/6df968fbee11c1dbdb2e36d2b523c1d3dbde0af1e5b4b428e0d28e14fc3c18c9-2a9d172216e3e7173d99e887d4595af3?id=478379


  • The Good Beer Guide 2026 is out now! Thursday 2 October 2025

    The UK’s definitive guidebook to good pubs that serve real ale across the UK. Refreshed and updated for its 53rd edition, it is fully revised and features recommended pubs across the United Kingdom that serve the best real ale as well as a comprehensive listing of UK breweries. This is the complete book for beer lovers and for anyone wanting to experience the UK’s finest pubs. The Good Beer Guide is completely independent, with listings based entirely on evaluation by CAMRA members. The foreword for this year’s guide has been penned by Ed Byrne, comedian and beer lover. Famous for his #preshowpints on social media, he has posted about the various bars and breweries he has sampled around the UK prior to his shows.


  • Download your digital Membership Card to your Smart Device Wednesday 1 October 2025



  • Be a BAD Lady! Thursday 4 September 2025

    If you are a lady who loves beer then you might be interested in joining in with our activities. We are a group of CAMRA women who enjoy getting together for a few hours once every couple of months through the year to enjoy real ale and real cider. We are interested in organising beer and cider tasting, beer brewing and pub trips. We agreed that our pub trips would include places that served real cider as well as real ale, and that we wouldn't visit more than 3 pubs over an afternoon.

    So, if you are one of the 22% of female members in Bristol and District (BAD) CAMRA, enjoy beer and great company, and like the look of our programme then please join us.

    Our events take place on Saturday afternoons, normally from 14:00-18:00 unless otherwise stated. No need to book unless it's a special event. Just turn up.

    If you have any queries about BAD Ladies, or if you need to know more find us on:

    CAMRA Bristol and District Branch Diary: https://www.camrabristol.org.uk/diary.html

    Instagram: @camra_bad_ladies

    Contact Bianca on 07723 020223

  • WhatPub? To be replaced by https://camra.org.uk/pubs Thursday 4 September 2025

    WhatPub will be shut down from 1st October 2025. You don’t have to do anything, but after this date whatpub.com will automatically redirect you to the CAMRA website.

    What Pub? Is being phased out but the database is now accessible at https://camra.org.uk/pubs.