Welcome to our website!
In 2006 members of the Campaign for Real Ale in the Tendring Peninsula voted to form their own branch. This meant that the area of North East Essex bounded roughly by the area East of the line from Brightlingsea to Manningtree – extending out to Clacton and Harwich would be a new branch of CAMRA separate from the Colchester & North East Essex Branch.
This seemingly unimportant event was, in fact, important to Tendring CAMRA members since they could now campaign more effectively at a local level – one of the guiding principles of our organisation.
So – if you think that Real Ale and Pubs are an important part of British life and in need of promotion, protection and celebration you might find this site right up your alley. Even if you find yourself annoyed, bored or even (heaven forbid) in disagreement with us we hope you’ll find snippets or things here to amuse, provoke or otherwise pass the time. And if you’re not already a CAMRA member it sounds like you’d fit in well – Join Us!
This site is very much a work in progress so please keep checking back!
- Tendring CAMRA Christmas Jumper DayWe are once again arranging a lunchtime CAMRA Christmas Jumper Day outing to Manningtree on Saturday 12 December, travelling by public transport. There is no need to let me know if you are joining us. Lunch and pub visitsThere are several places for lunch, so please make your own arrangements.Rather than visiting the pubs en… Read more: Tendring CAMRA Christmas Jumper Day
- Mainline Coffee (Manningtree Station Buffet) crowned best railway station pub in East of EnglandAccording to research by Locals Insider, Mainline Coffee (Manningtree Station Buffet) is the best railway station pub in the East of England, ranking 11th nationally out of 46 station pubs, narrowly missing out on 10th place which went to the Harrowgate Tap. The results were calculated based on a combination of opening hours, prices, and… Read more: Mainline Coffee (Manningtree Station Buffet) crowned best railway station pub in East of England
- Harwich Sausage Festival ResultsIf you were at the Harwich Sausage Festival on Saturday (7th November), here is the decoding of the Secret Sausage Schema: A was a hog roast sausage from Chas Bower Butchers in Holland-on-Sea. B was a marmite and cheese sausage from Pier Avenue Butchers in Clacton-on-Sea. C was a cracked black pepper sausage from Shaws… Read more: Harwich Sausage Festival Results
- 21/11/2026 – Blacksmiths Arms, Mistley Heath meetingOur next meeting will take place on Saturday 21st November at the Blacksmiths Arms, Mistley Heath. The pub has agreed to open at noon for us, so the meeting will start once everyone has arrived and bought a drink; while they don’t usually have real ales on they have said they’ll get a couple of… Read more: 21/11/2026 – Blacksmiths Arms, Mistley Heath meeting
- Pub Passport trail 2026 prize drawer winner received prizeTendring CAMRA Pub Passport trail 2026 prize drawer winner Steve Dersley received his prize engraved tankard during our Apple Day trip, receiving it at our first stop at the Blacksmiths Arms in Little Clacton, and testing it for the first time at the New Bell Inn in Harwich (our third stop, after the Maybush in… Read more: Pub Passport trail 2026 prize drawer winner received prize
- 24/10/2026 Apple Day TripWe are looking at running Apple Day on Saturday 24th October with all things cider in mind (obviously you’re more than welcome to come along and drink an Ale or two). The plan for the day is visit The Blacksmith Arms, Little Clacton, The Maybush, Great Oakley and then back into Harwich for The New… Read more: 24/10/2026 Apple Day Trip
- Cravat Day 2026Sunday 18th October 2026 is Cravat Day this year. Wear one to a local pub as part of our ongoing campaign.

Tendring CAMRA’s collaboration with the Harwich Society lets you find out even more about the ancient hostelries of Old Harwich.













