Welcome to the AGM. Let me start with how the licenced trade has performed this very difficult year. It is estimated 378 pubs will close this year in England ,Scotland, Wales. However a more comprehensive figure from the British Beer & Pub Association indicates 1086 pubs are expected to close leaving a total at 45,000, whereas 10 years ago it was 52,000. The average pint is £4.52 compared to £3.22 10 years ago (whereas tax is around a quarter the price).

In Hinckley alone we have Duke of Rutland looking for a manager or freehold sale, same as the Woolcomber, Dog and Hedgehog and the Cock at Sibson and with the Ashby tavern on its 3rd manager this year not good, But some good news we have Phil and dawn back at the Queens Head, the Nags Head reopened at Stapleton and the Bulls Head at Nailstone was reopened after five years closed.

CAMRA membership from last year to this:-
National down by 2.25%
East Midlands down by 4.7 %
Hinckley down by 5.06 %

I believe our Branch decrease is due to older members passing on or moving away from the area but also we have not got the pull of Weatherspoon’s or a festival in Hinckley itself to enrol new members and have a venue to use to their tokens. This year our average Branch Meeting attendance is 26 - 2 down from last year. I know that is definitely down to some members retiring from work and enjoying life going on holidays every month, I am mentioning no names? I feel the branch has a good vibe / atmosphere. We went on numerous trips this year, on public transport, a big bus and the new venture “Dial-a-Ride”. We have also improved out expertise / knowledge in many area with 1st aiders, cellar training and now a up and coming tasting panel led by Gary.

The main event for the year is the RailAle as usual a great thank you for Jackie, a great job well done with the organisation. As previously mentioned, expertise from our members came into fruition mainly because HQ moving did not go quite as well as planned, so we received dirty equipment, defective equipment and no tall lift to get it off lorry but we prevailed. Setting up / taking down went a dream thank you members.

A big thank you for Rob begging for sponsorship and Michelle for Health & Safety activities. John for organising staffing and for living down there, possibly with Tony Smith as he volunteered for all weekend shift cheers Tony.

We had a good festival starting with 4,808 pints with only 10.4% left and all the cider was sold by 10:30 Saturday evening.The overall 2025 financial surplus was in line with 2024, although sales were up by around £1000, the cost risen equally. We gave HQ £5191 and the Battlefield Line £4993 - also charity £426 split between Royal British Legion and the British Heart Foundation. We had a great day out for the Volunteers Thank You Trip to the Thornbridge Brewery and onto Belper, thank you all.

On to our committee - it is great that you are all volunteering to carry on in your roles next year apart from a couple, keeping that invaluable knowledge and expertise. We lost Michelle going on to pastures new. Peter Scott took over as treasurer using the infamous COBAS accounting system which is very challenging but I am sure he will get there.

I have a new deputy; Tony Smith. Welcome aboard. I am really pleased to have such a devoted replacement. Gary retaining membership officer especially after he gained 9 new members at rale ale outstanding and also taking on tasting panel chair. John keeping us all informed and up to date and also your second role as Chair handling organiser, I would be lost without you .

Jackie as BFO all ready mentioned thank you. Chris every year your role gets more frustrating but you carry on because the council planning don’tlike it up them. Stuart keeping our web page up to date and true especially with all the photos and info we are supposed to give you. Steve great year for outings and trips with help from Allan and David, including Chester, Black Country, GBBF, Tamworth, Fixed Wheel Brewery. Bad news were going for more next year.

David is still helping the Leicestershire Drinker keeping it afloat as well as organising trips for and with Steve. Alan in between many holidays this year, still on top of GBG entries and POTY - never a moan from region, always on time - great job. BFOs Rob Jarvis and Steve Barker keeping us informed of Golden Duck and New Buildings.

On to finance –we are in a stable good condition due to RailAle. Also Darren and Louise who I would like to say big thank you for storing our beer festival equipment; I applaud you all.

Now my thoughts for next year:-

• More bus trips - pay your own way
  
• More “Dial-a-Ride” minibus trips (thank you Alan)
  
• A Hinckley Ale Festival - we are in talks with Hinckley rugby club to do a joint one in September next year and will need all hands on deck to help . We hope with festival that would lead to new / more members because we need to drive membershipforward.>br>
• Collaborate with Leicester, Nuneaton, Tamworth with trips
  
• Start a branch tasting panel hopefully in synchronisation with EM tasting panel
  
• Look at having a table at Hinckley Rugby Club lunch match days (at our own expense)
  
• Look at holding a branch dinner - perhaps Christmas
  
• Set up a diary of CAMRA beer and pub festivals for branch trips
  

  Tracy Ellis - Hinckley & Bosworth Branch Chair