Nik Antona has been elected to the post of chairman at the Campaign for Real Ale at a meeting of the organisation’s national executive. He is due to take office in April following Camra’s members’ weekend, AGM and conference, to be held in Dundee this year. He takes over the position from Jackie Parker, who is standing down after a year in the role. Antona…

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has narrowly rejected plans to reform the organisation by extending beyond real ale for the first time. The proposal could have seen Camra representing all beer, cider and perry drinkers – and not just real ale. But 18,000 members voted online and at Camra’s AGM in Coventry at the weekend, rejecting the proposal. The motion to “act as the…

Wines of Great Britain (WineGB) has unveiled its new branding to support the UK wine industry’s new name and identity, along with the announcement of its activities in 2018. The ‘roundel’ is designed to be easily recognisable and it incorporates the key elements of the industry, featuring grapes and wines through illustration and wording, together with the prominent use of the union flag. The primary…

Guy Sheppard has taken over from Keith Bott as chairman of the Society of Independent Brewers. Lifelong ale lover Sheppard co-founded Exe Valley brewery in Devon in 1984 and is now the sole owner. He also ran a wholesale business distributing cask beer in the south west and SIBA’s treasurer for the region, helping first ever beer festival at Tuckers Maltings in Newton Abbott in…