St Helens CAMRA launches 'real ale trail' map of town centre pubs

The launch coincides with the 15th anniversary of the group being a CAMRA branch in its own right – previously St Helens was part of Liverpool CAMRA until 2008.

13 St Helens pubs featured

The organisation, which campaigns for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights, has issued the guide on their website which features 13 establishments currently offering real ale in St Helens town centre.

Among those included are this year’s St Helens and Districts CAMRA Pub of the Year, the Turks Head on Morley Street, which offers 14 real ales along with its sister pub next door, The Cowley Vaults which boasts six.

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Also featured are The Cricketers Arms on Peter Street, which was 2017 National CAMRA Pub of the Year, which has 13 real ales and a good selection of ciders.

Also, the recently-refurbished Lamb Inn on Corporation Street, which has six real ale pumps is featured. Meanwhile the Royal Alfred, opposite St Helens Central train station, which has five real ale hand pulls and screens in the pub showing the train times handy for those travelling to and from the town by train to try out the ale trail, is also included.

Also featured is the recently reopened Running Horses which has started sourcing locally brewed real ale, along with The Market Tavern, The Sefton, The Nelson, The Glass House (Wetherspoons) The George, and The New Talbot Alehouse and The News Room which are closely located to each other apart on Duke Street.

St Helens CAMRA is celebrating its 15th anniversary (Image: St Helens CAMRA)

'A great place to come for real ale'

St Helens and Districts CAMRA Pubs Officer, Ian Pye said: “I’m really proud to be pubs officer for a CAMRA branch with such a booming real ale scene at the moment. St Helens has always been a great place to come for real ale and it’s getting better. Not only do we have great pubs in our town centre, but also in our outlying districts too.

"We’ve released the map in time for this year’s Summer of Pub, a CAMRA initiative that supports and promotes pub-going throughout the summer and encourages people to get involved with community events at pubs such as live music, quiz nights, summer fetes, family fun days or simply just grabbing a group of mates and heading to the pub for a great pint of real ale.” 

Councillor Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council's cabinet member for economy,

business and skills, added: “The number and quality of real ale pubs in St Helens is a real strength of the town, and the map will help attract both locals and visitors alike.  I’d encourage everyone to visit some of the pubs featured where you will receive a warm welcome and some fantastic beers.” 

The real ale maps will be available soon in pubs around town for people to pick up along the way.

The town centre map is the first in a series of maps that cover St Helens and Districts CAMRA branch area. There will be others to follow which cover Rainford, Rainhill, Prescot and Whiston.

Visit sthelens.camra.org.uk