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What is Forth Valley CAMRA?
Forth Valley CAMRA is the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale covering Forth Valley and the Trossachs in Scotland. It is a volunteer-run group of CAMRA members who promote real ale, cider and pub culture in that area, and it organises branch events, publishes local pub information and represents members' interests locally.
Its own site describes a fairly active branch calendar. The headline event is the Alloa Real Ale and Cider Festival, which the branch notes is extra special in 2026 as its 50th birthday, with a promised range of 45–50 beers and 15–18 ciders, plus gin, wine, spirits and a Prosecco bar, food, and over-18s entry only. It also lists a Bo'ness Real Ale Appreciation Society festival in October 2026, branch awards (including Pub of the Year winners), a branch diary and calendar, a map and list of real ale pubs and clubs in the branch area, a members' discount scheme, a voucher scheme, and a members' WhatsApp community for branch announcements.
If you are deciding whether it is useful to you, the answer depends on what you want:
- If you drink real ale and want to know where to go locally: the branch pub map and list, plus its awards, are the most directly useful parts.
- If you want to attend events: the branch diary and calendar are the place to check, and the festival pages give practical detail such as dates, times and entry arrangements.
- If you are a CAMRA member in the area: the branch offers member discounts, a voucher scheme, meeting minutes and an AGM, so it functions as a local members' organisation rather than just a listings site.
- If you are outside the area: it is mainly a regional resource; national CAMRA matters are handled by the wider organisation.
A practical next step: open the branch diary or festival page first and check dates against your own plans. For the Alloa festival, note that entry is pay-at-the-door with no tickets, CAMRA members get free entry on production of a current membership card, and there is a £3 charge for the non-refundable glass and programme for others. The branch site is Forth Valley CAMRA; for the wider organisation and national pub guidance, CAMRA's official site is CAMRA.
When and where are the 2026 Alloa Real Ale and Cider Festival and Bo'ness Real Ale Appreciation Society Festival, and what does entry cost?
The 2026 Alloa Real Ale and Cider Festival runs Friday 6 November 13:00–22:30 and Saturday 7 November 12:00–22:30. The Bo'ness Real Ale Appreciation Society Festival runs Friday 9 – Saturday 10 October 2026.
Both are listed on Forth Valley CAMRA.
Alloa entry costs
- CAMRA members: free entry on production of a current membership card
- Everyone else: £10
- Glass (non-refundable) and programme: £3
- No tickets; pay at the door. Over-18s only. Free re-admission with glass and programme.
The Bo'ness listing gives dates only, so check the branch diary nearer the time for its entry arrangements.
Practical next step: if you're not a CAMRA member, the £10 door price plus £3 glass/programme is worth weighing against joining — the branch also runs a members' WhatsApp community for event announcements.
Example: a member arriving Saturday at Alloa pays nothing at the door but still buys the £3 glass and programme, and can leave and return free during the day.
How can I find real ale pubs, clubs, and breweries in the Forth Valley and Trossachs branch area?
The branch site itself is the most direct route. Its "Branch Real Ale Pubs" page gives a map and list of pubs and clubs across the Forth Valley and Trossachs area, and there is a separate "Branch Breweries" page for local producers — so you can plan a route around both beer and the places that make it.
Forth Valley CAMRA
Practical ways to use it
- Start with the pub map if you want a single trip: pick a town, then check which listed pubs and clubs are walkable from each other.
- Check the branch diary and calendar before travelling. Branch socials and festivals often move between venues, so a pub that looks quiet on paper may be busy on a meeting night.
- Look at the branch awards and Good Beer Guide selection pages if you want a shortlist rather than a long list. Award winners and GBG entries are the branch's own picks, which is useful when you have limited time.
- Check the members' discounts page if you are a CAMRA member — some branch-area pubs offer deals, though you will need your current membership card.
Beyond the branch site
CAMRA's national pub guide covers the whole country and is handy for cross-checking a venue before you go, especially outside the branch boundary. For a wider Scottish view, other CAMRA branches list their own areas, which helps if your trip runs from Forth Valley into neighbouring regions.
A concrete example
Say you have one Saturday in Alloa. Check the branch pub list for Alloa entries, note any brewery tap or brewery-owned pub on the breweries page, then check the branch diary in case a branch social or festival is on that day. If the Alloa Real Ale and Cider Festival is running, that single event may cover more beers and ciders than a pub crawl — the branch describes it as a large range of beers and ciders with food, gin, wine and spirits available, over-18s only, pay at the door, with free entry for CAMRA members on production of a current membership card.
Decision criterion
Use the branch map when you want local, branch-vetted venues; use the national guide when you need coverage beyond the branch area or a second opinion. If your main goal is meeting local CAMRA members rather than simply finding beer, the branch diary and WhatsApp community announcements matter more than the pub list.
How can I join CAMRA or the branch's WhatsApp community to get member benefits and event updates?
Joining CAMRA and joining the branch WhatsApp community are two separate steps: CAMRA membership is the paid national membership that gives you member benefits, while the WhatsApp community is a free, optional branch communication channel for members.
Joining CAMRA
Use the "Join us" link in the site menu. CAMRA membership is what unlocks the benefits referred to on this branch site, such as free entry to the branch's Alloa Real Ale and Cider Festival on production of a current membership card, and access to the members' area of the website.
Joining the branch WhatsApp community
The branch has created a WhatsApp Community to share branch events and important announcements. Key points from the branch's own description:
- Joining is entirely voluntary.
- It is for branch information, not general social chat.
- All Forth Valley CAMRA members can apply to join, using the QR code or link on the site.
Practical next step
If you are not yet a member, join CAMRA first, then apply for the WhatsApp community once your membership is confirmed. If you are already a member, go straight to the WhatsApp community link on the branch site.
Useful comparison
| Route | What it is for | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| CAMRA membership ("Join us") | Member benefits, festival free entry, members' area | Paid national membership |
| Branch WhatsApp Community | Branch event and announcement updates | Forth Valley CAMRA members, voluntary |
For context on the wider organisation, see CAMRA. For the branch itself, see Forth Valley CAMRA.
How are the branch's Pub of the Year and other annual awards chosen?
The branch publishes its own selection process rather than leaving the method vague. On its site you can find a page titled GBG Selection Process, alongside separate pages for Branch Awards for 2024, 2025 and 2026. The 2026 Pub of the Year winners were announced as news on 29 July 2026. So the awards are an annual cycle: branch members survey and score candidates, the branch settles the winners, and the results feed into CAMRA's wider awards and pub-guide work. The exact scoring criteria and voting rounds are set out on those branch pages, not summarised here.
Forth Valley CAMRA
H3 What this means in practice
- Who decides: branch members, not a national panel. CAMRA branches are volunteer-run, and local knowledge of beer quality, welcome, atmosphere and consistency carries weight.
- What is assessed: typically the quality and condition of the real ale, plus the pub's overall offer and how it serves its community. The branch's own GBG selection page is where the specific criteria live.
- Why it matters beyond a trophy: the same assessments help decide which pubs appear in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide, so a branch award often signals a pub is in contention for national listing.
H3 If you want to have a say
Join the branch and take part in its surveying and meetings. Forth Valley also runs a members' WhatsApp community for branch announcements and events, and members get free entry to branch festivals such as the Alloa Real Ale and Cider Festival — a practical way to visit candidate pubs and form your own view. If you are a pub landlord hoping to be considered, the realistic route is consistent beer quality and a visible role in the local scene, not a one-off good week.
H3 Where the Forth Valley branch sits
For context on how branch awards compare with the national picture, see CAMRA for the national awards structure, and CAMRA Scotland Branches for the Scottish regional network.
What is the CAMRA voucher scheme and which pubs in the branch area offer member discounts?
The CAMRA voucher scheme is a member benefit where participating pubs accept vouchers, typically in the form of £X off a pint or similar, in exchange for CAMRA membership. In Forth Valley, the branch maintains a "Voucher Scheme Pubs" list and a separate "Members Discounts In Branch Area" page, indicating that some pubs offer discounts directly to card-carrying members rather than through vouchers. For a current, reliable answer on which specific pubs participate, check the branch's own pages: Forth Valley CAMRA.
Practical next step: Open the branch site, go to "Voucher Scheme Pubs" and "Members Discounts In Branch Area," and cross-check with the branch's pub map. If you're planning a visit, phone the pub first—participation can change and some discounts apply only on certain days or to certain drinks.
Example scenario: You're a CAMRA member spending a weekend in Stirling or Alloa. You check the branch list, find a participating pub, show your current membership card, and either hand over a voucher or ask for the member price. If the pub isn't listed, don't assume the discount applies.
Decision criterion: Use the voucher scheme if you already hold vouchers and want a straightforward pint discount; use the members discount list if you prefer showing your card without carrying vouchers. For national context on how the schemes generally work, see CAMRA.
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