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Digital Futures

The CAMRA Experience is a new website and digital experience, designed to streamline and improve the way in which customers find good quality pubs, beers and events online – Pubs, Pints, People!

This site will eventually replace all core CAMRA domains, consolidating them into a single site that will act as CAMRA’s main website.

The website will ultimately combine almost all of the features and much of the information utilised across CAMRA’s other websites (main website, WhatPub, events, Tckty, cider producers, Pub Heritage, shop, news, etc) to create a user-friendly centralised user-experience of quality experiential and digital product for non-members whilst also adding value to current members.

The decision making with this project has been aided by various surveys, focus groups and testers. These groups will continue meeting and providing feedback as the site is developed.

This new site is the beginning of a longer development roadmap that will see additional integration and features added.


FAQs?

CAMRA Website

What is CAMRA?

CAMRA is also known as the Campaign for Real Ale. We are a UK-wide consumer group championing the rights of beer and cider drinkers and pub-goers. We are considered one of the most successful consumer organisations in Europe. Founded by four cask beer enthusiasts back in 1971, today we represent beer and cider drinkers and pub-goers across the UK.

Our vision is to have quality cask beer, cider and perry and thriving pubs in every community. We do this by supporting and encouraging the beer, cider and pubs trade by running beer festivals, lobbying Government for changes to the law, giving awards and developing bespoke pub finders and guides.

What is CAMRA membership?

Membership is the complete CAMRA package.

As a member, you get access to all the digital features that a subscriber does, plus benefits such as £30 worth of cask beer vouchers*, reduced entry to our 150+ beer festivals, discounted prices at our shop, volunteering and campaigning opportunities, quarterly award-winning BEER magazine and more.

You can either purchase a membership as a one-off payment for a year, or you can sign up on Direct Debit for £2 less.

*£30 for single members, £40 for joint members

How do you use the data you collect about me?

We only use the data we collect about you to process your account and create personalised access to certain tools and information. This means you get the best experience possible and only the information you need.

Our privacy policy is here camra.org.uk/privacy-policy

Our Terms and Conditions are here camra.org.uk/terms-conditions

I have a login issue, what do I do?

Our Membership Team can help with any aspect of your CAMRA membership and account. Get in touch with them using the contact form at the bottom of this page: camra.org.uk/about/contact-us

How can I submit feedback about the new site?

You can send feedback to digitalfutures@camra.org.uk

I have a suggestion to improve the new site, who could I contact?

You can send any ideas to digitalfutures@camra.org.uk

I can’t find something that was on the previous site, where is it?

In most cases you can use the search function, and it should direct you to the right page, but if you are in doubt, please use the contact form on the site and it will be directed to the relevant team: camra.org.uk/about/contact-us

The CAMRA Volunteers’ Area of the site has not changed and is still the place to find information for branches and resources: members.camra.org.uk

What is a website ‘user’?

You’re a CAMRA website user if you’ve registered with us for a free account. You might have done this after purchasing something from our shop, purchasing a ticket for one of our events, or selecting to do so from our main website. You will have had to create a password and consented to do so.

Being a user is great because you can access simple website features without paying a penny. Features like event searching, access to recent CAMRA news, pub, brewery and beer searches.

As a user you are limited on many features and you’ll only be able to create a maximum of three trips with our trip planner, and view only a maximum of three suggested pub walk routes.

For access to all online features, you can become a subscriber or for the full CAMRA benefits package you can become a CAMRA member.

What is a website ‘subscriber’?

You’re a subscriber if you’ve signed up to CAMRA on our 99p per month user package. This gives you access to all our website features and functionality, such as unlimited trip planning across the UK, viewing CAMRA verified beer tasting notes and descriptions, access to our recent news and upcoming events. This is an excellent package for someone looking to travel and experience more great beers, pubs and breweries in different areas of the UK.

As a subscriber you’ll have access to our digital features only. For the full CAMRA benefits package - including beer vouchers, pub discounts, reduced festival entry and more - you’ll need to become a CAMRA member.

What is the difference between being a ‘user’, ‘subscriber’, and a ‘CAMRA member’?

Registering as a user is free and unlocks some basic features of the CAMRA website.

Becoming a subscriber requires a small monthly payment of 99p on direct debit but gives you full access to the features on the CAMRA website.

Joining CAMRA as a member is our top tier and most popular option. Not only do you get access to all the website features that a subscriber has, but you’ll also get all the CAMRA membership benefits too!

What features do I get as a CAMRA member?

As a member of CAMRA, you not only get all the same digital features as a subscriber but also our wider membership benefits.

The digital features include: - Plan pub trips around the UK with our trip planning features - View our extensive reviewed list of verified pubs, breweries and beers - Search for regions and branches to get local information - Read extensive verified beer tasting notes to find your favourite beers quicker and easier - Access beer ratings and recommendations verified by our members - Use our beer spotter search functionality - Explore CAMRA events such as beer festivals and branch meetings - Catch up with recent CAMRA news - Read news related to the industries we work within on What’s Brewing

A full list of our member benefits is here: camra.org.uk/membership-benefits

*£30 for single members, £40 for joint members

What features do subscribers get?

As a subscriber, you get access to our full digital features package:
- Plan full pub-orientated trips around the nation with our trip planning features - View our extensive reviewed list of verified pubs, breweries and beers - Search for regions and branches to get localised information - Read extensive verified beer tasting notes to find your favourite beers quicker and easier - Access beer ratings and recommendations verified by our members - Use our beer spotter dedicated search functionality - Explore CAMRA events like beer festivals and branch meetings - Catch up with recent CAMRA news - Read news related to the industries we work within on the What’s Brewing news site

What features do non-members get?

You don’t have to be a subscriber or a member of CAMRA to get some of the features of the CAMRA Experience.
By registering an account for free, you can start using some of our basic website features such as:
- Search through our database of pubs, breweries and beers - Find out what CAMRA events are on around the UK - See recent CAMRA news - Search our database of pubs and clubs by region or CAMRA branch - Read some of our What’s Brewing articles for recent news on the Campaign and the licensed trade.
The best thing about registering with us is that your starter account is free!
Please be aware that with some features, you will be limited on the amount of uses.
Fortunately, for only 99p per month, you can upgrade to a subscriber account and unlock all our website features and benefits we offer.

Why should I register on the site, become a subscriber, or join CAMRA?

We are here to help you explore the amazing world of beer, cider and pubs.
Registering with us, becoming a subscriber or joining CAMRA will unlock different features that will give you a quicker and easier way to discover amazing beer and pubs, and plan your next trip out.

Are you replacing your other websites?

The concept behind our Digital Futures project, with the new website as our flagship product, is to bring all our digital features under one umbrella.

This is to make it easier to tap into as a member or volunteer, rather than to remove any of the features or materials currently offered to our membership.

However, key systems such as WhatPub are now on old technology that is difficult and expensive to support, so all new investment will go towards the new site that will over time become the focal point for pub and beer information.

How does this affect the Volunteers’ Area of the site?

At the moment, the Volunteers’ Area of the website (which requires a CAMRA member login) will stay the same.

Is any work planned for the Volunteers’ Area of the site?

At the moment we don’t have specific plans for changing the Volunteers’ Area (which requires a CAMRA member login to access). However, we are developing plans to improve this area.

Will there be a CAMRA App?

Yes! We have plans to develop a CAMRA app.

How does CAMRA’s Learn and Discover content link into the membership and subscription levels?

Our new digital subscription is not related to our Learn and Discover content and full access to Learn and Discover is a benefit of CAMRA Membership.
We are simply removing the £4.99 a year Good Beer Guide App subscription in favour of the current 99p per month digital subscription, and giving you access to more content and features.
Learn and Discover beginner content is available to everyone, and we have member only-content at the enthusiast and connoisseur levels, all of which can be found at learn-discover.camra.org.uk
We are working on a new Learn and Discover platform, so our existing content has not been integrated into the new website.

Is CAMRA’s Pub Heritage or Community Pubs website going to disappear?

These have been integrated into the new CAMRA site, and redirects from the old sites have been set up to direct people to the correct pages on the new site.

What will happen to my Good Beer Guide App subscription if I’m a member?

You will no longer need a Good Beer Guide subscription separately to your membership.

Whether you need to manually cancel your subscription or not depends on how it is currently set up:

  • If you pay a 99p monthly subscription via iOS, you will need to cancel it manually – we cannot do that for you.

  • If your Good Beer Guide App subscription is linked to your CAMRA membership account, and you pay it directly to CAMRA, then we will cancel the subscription for you.

  • If your Good Beer Guide App subscription is not linked to your CAMRA membership, then you will need to cancel it manually.

What will happen to my Good Beer Guide App subscription if I’m not a member?

Your subscription will continue until it expires, and what happens next will be determined by which payment plan you have chosen.
Those paying 99p a month will automatically be moved onto the new platform, those paying £4.99 a year will be given the option to renew on the new site for 99p per month, which will give access to the same information that was included in the Good Beer Guide App.
You can link your CAMRA account with your Good Beer Guide App account which will allow you to continue to benefit from access to Good Beer Guide information as a subscriber to the new website.

What is a digital subscription?

A digital subscription is a card payment for 99p per month giving a non-CAMRA member access to our website’s digital content and features. It is not the same as a CAMRA membership – which gives you membership rights and benefits.

How much is a digital subscription?

Digital subscriptions cost 99p per month and standard CAMRA Membership starts from just £30.50 a year.

Does this mean that members can access the Good Beer Guide for free?

Giving members access to digital Good Beer Guide listing information provides additional value to your CAMRA Membership, and is another great reason to join CAMRA today, rather than purchasing a digital subscription option.

What are the pint score ratings on venue listings?

These are beer quality ratings for the venue, based on scores submitted by CAMRA members.

Find out more about beer scoring here: camra.org.uk/beer-scoring

Find out more about our pint score ratings here: camra.org.uk/beer-quality-accreditation

Will this affect how I log in to score beers?

No, you can still use the Good Beer Guide web app or WhatPub at the moment, but you can use the new site to submit, view and edit your scores from one place.

Will this affect how we update WhatPub entries and data?

The new site will not affect how you update pub data – input interfaces like Pubzilla, Spile, Hops and other custom tools will still work in the exact same way. This data is fed into the “WhatPub” database which is used to power this site.

Will this affect our branch website?

Branch websites will not be affected, and we will ensure that links are provided to your site. The branch pages of the new site are there to help users find branches and promote them as part of how CAMRA operates at a local level.
Link redirects are in place for WhatPub pages and the old website, so you shouldn’t have to edit links that you have in place.

Is WhatPub going to disappear?

We are planning to phase out WhatPub over the next 6-12 months. It uses legacy software, and new features and enhancements are being added to the new site, with great feedback so far.

Will the What’s Brewing website be integrated into the new site?

At the moment links to the What’s Brewing website are displayed throughout the site. Eventually it will be fully integrated, but this will happen later in our development roadmap.

Why isn’t there the same amount of information about cider and perry as there is about beer on the new site?

We are still developing our cider and perry database and once this is completed, there will be more detailed information available, in addition to the information about cider and perry producers on the site.

What are you doing to support those who are not online or don’t want to be?

CAMRA’s flagship publications - BEER magazine - is still available in hard copy for members, as is the Good Beer Guide and many other excellent CAMRA Books titles.

Are there plans for a Scotland Wales or Northern Ireland version of the website?

The site makes use of your location and so pubs, clubs, beers and breweries should naturally be tailored to your local area and nation.


Feedback

Introducing Our New Road mapping Tool!

We are pleased to share with you our new Road mapping Tool, a platform designed to enhance transparency and collaboration on the future of CAMRA Experience and our digital offerings. https://portal.productboard.com/camra/1-camra-experience-roadmap-portal/tabs/1-under-consideration

The tool shows planned developments on the site as well as things under consideration. You can mark how important each feature is which will help us decide what is worked on next.

It also allows you to submit an idea directly to the Digital Futures team.

For any other feedback or queries please contact digitalfutures@camra.org.uk.


Consolidation of existing systems

One of the core concepts behind Digital Futures, and by extension this new platform, is to bring all of our assets under one umbrella to make it easier to tap into as a member or volunteer. This will not remove any of the current features or materials and will now make available a significant amount of new information that is not currently accessible, or difficult to access.

However, key systems such as WhatPub are now on old technology that is difficult and expensive to support, so all new investment will go towards the new application that will over time become the focal point for pub and beer information. Tools such as Pubzilla, Spile, Hops and other custom tools will all still work in exactly the same way. This data is fed into the WhatPub database which is used to power the new website.

CAMRA Volunteers’ Area

Currently, the Volunteers Area of the website will remain the same. In the Digital Futures roadmap, the Volunteers’ Area is earmarked for re-development in 2025.

This new platform will provide us with capabilities to make the digital experience significantly better for volunteers in the future.

Visit Volunteers' Area


Questions on digitisation

This is not a step away from in-person campaigning, or printed materials. This website simply updates the online elements of the campaign, and consolidates them into a more streamlined and easier-to-use platform.


Issues & Bugs

If you spot a bug or have come across an issue with an existing feature of this site please report this to it@camra.org.uk.

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