Unacceptable lease renewal terms have forced local legends Sam and Marie-Clare to announce that they will be leaving popular town centre pub The Malt Shovel at the end of July, their family home for twelve years.

The impact that the family has had on the local community, particularly the real ale and the music scenes, has been substantial so their departure would be a major blow to many.

This years festival was another hugely enjoyable success. Thanks to everyone who came along and also to our amazing team of planners, organisers and helpers.

The votes are in for the beers of the festival winners who are:

Dark Beer of the Festival: Kissingate Brewery & Taproom - Choc Cherry Dipper Porter (4.5%)

Light Beer of the Festival: Nightjar Brew Co – Lost in Ikea (4.2%)

Cider of the Festival: Nuthurst Orchard - Passion Fruit Cider (5%)

The Runners up:

Dark Beer: Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Stout, Flying Trunk – Coffee Way Past Your Bedtime Stout,
Light Beer: Aleworks – All Day Succa, Orkney – Man O’Hoy
Cider: Bignose and Beardy - This Little Piggy, Bignose and Beardy - Barcombe Mad

The certificate presentation to Kissingate will take place at their Spring Festival on 17th May and we will send out a message about arranging travel to the taproom in the next few weeks.

Finally another massive thank you for a new record amount for the event, raising almost £1,100 with your donations to our chosen charity the Horsham & Crawley branch of the Samaritans.

The Horsham Brewhouse and Kitchen has had it's brewing equipment removed and the premises has been refurbished, rebranded and reopened as The Rock Craft House

Crouch Vale’s Amarillo (5%) has been crowned CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain 2024. Runner up was Anspach & Hobday, The IPA 6% and third place went to Green Jack, Trawlerboys Best Bitter 4.6%

SEE ALL THE WINNERS HERE

The Great British Beer Festival returns in 2025 at its new home at the NEC in Birmingham. Find out more HERE

HBC lauched their new brewery and tap room with a gala weekend featuring a range of their own beers plus several from small local breweries.

Regular opening hours have been extended to Wednesday to Friday 5.30pm - 10.30pm and Saturdays 11am until 9pm.

Congratulations to Liam Brooker from Aleworks for reaching the final of the Maker & Creator category of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards

Why not join our hike on 27th July, which includes a visit to the brewery!

There was a tremendous turnout for the branch at this years Beerex. After a slightly wobbly start the weather decided to join in the fun as well to make it a truly memorable outing.