Listening to Our Members: Survey Insights 2025
The Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre Branch of CAMRA is built on the enthusiasm and commitment of our members. From supporting our wonderful local pubs and breweries to celebrating great beer together at socials and festivals, our branch is part of something special.
But like any good organisation, it’s important that we stop and listen. This year, we ran a membership survey to better understand what matters most to you, why you joined CAMRA, what you value, and how we can make our activities more welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable.
We were delighted to receive 101 responses, the highest turnout we’ve ever had for a branch survey. That alone tells us something: members care about the future of our branch and want to have their voices heard.
Why People Join CAMRA
The survey reminded us of the diversity of motivations behind membership.
- The love of real ale, cider and perry was, unsurprisingly, the most common reason to join (93%).
- Supporting pubs and breweries also came through strongly (76%).
- For some, it’s about the discounts and membership benefits (45%), while others value social opportunities (25%).
This mix reflects the strength of CAMRA: We bring together beer lovers, campaigners, and socialites under one banner. It also highlights where we can do more, ensuring our events and activities speak to all of these motivations, not just one.
Meetings: Barriers and Opportunities
Just 42% of respondents have ever attended a branch meeting, with many saying they prefer the more social side of CAMRA.
Top reasons for not attending included:
- Meetings feeling too formal or cliquey
- Timing and location being inconvenient
- Unclear purpose of meetings
At the same time, communication about meetings was generally rated as “neutral to good”, which shows we’re getting the word out but may need to rethink the format.
What’s the insight? Meetings matter, but they need to be welcoming, social, and varied if we’re to encourage wider participation.
Beer Scoring: Room for Growth
Beer scoring is one of CAMRA’s most powerful campaigning tools, but many members are uncertain about how it works.
- 60% said they understand its importance
- Yet 76% either never or only rarely score beers
- The top barrier? Not being interested, followed closely by not knowing how to do it
The good news is members told us what would help:
- A simple guide or instructions
- Reminders and prompts from the branch
- Opportunities to practise scoring socially
While not everyone will embrace scoring, we can make it easier and more fun for those who are interested.
Social Trips & Events
Social trips are hugely valued, but attendance is currently very low: only 13% of respondents currently attend.
Why?
- Timing and themes don’t always suit
- Transport issues make travel awkward
- Some members simply prefer their own informal pub groups
Yet, there’s appetite to improve. Members showed clear willingness to pay for coach or minibus trips, particularly within the Fylde Coast or the North West region. Many also said they would pay a deposit or upfront cost if it helped secure places.
The challenge is clear: revive trips with better themes, convenient transport, and varied destinations.
Beer Festivals: Much-Loved, But Not Without Challenges
Beer festivals remain a cornerstone of branch life.
- Fleetwood Festival is the most attended (86), followed by Lytham (54) and Blackpool (40).
- Very few cited ticket price as a barrier, instead, timing, location and transport were the main issues.
When it comes to volunteering, only 30 respondents had done so before, but many more said they might be interested if they had clearer information about what’s involved. That’s a real opportunity!
Members also offered ideas to improve festivals:
- Better advertising and advance publicity
- More food variety and availability until late
- Easier public transport access
- More seating and social spaces
- Themed or smaller festivals (e.g., IPA or cider focus)
Barriers to Participation
Across all branch activities, the main barriers were:
- Lack of time (44 responses)
- Lack of interest in topics (22)
- Transport issues or inconvenient timing (raised in comments)
- Some members find events exclusive or unwelcoming (15)
Encouragement factors included:
- Different types of events (brewery tours, tastings, casual socials)
- More accessible locations and times
- A focus on making newcomers feel welcome
Inclusivity & Appeal
Inclusivity ratings were mixed: most clustered around the middle, but 16 respondents rated inclusivity poorly.
Member suggestions included:
- Addressing the cliquey feel
- Welcomers or mentors for new attendees
- Mixing formats with tastings, guest speakers, debates, raffles
- Varying locations to make events more accessible
There’s also clear appetite for special-interest events:
- Brewery or pub tours (69)
- Tastings (46)
- Workshops or socials (22 each)
Who Are Our Members?
The demographics paint a telling picture:
- 93% of respondents are male
- 94% are aged 50+ (with 65+ being the largest group)
- Younger voices are missing entirely: not a single respondent was under 30
Geographically, responses were concentrated in areas like FY6, FY8 and FY3, suggesting we could better target events in these hotspots.
The insight is clear: our branch is built on a dedicated core of older male members, but if we want to thrive long-term, we need to welcome new generations, women, and more diverse audiences into the CAMRA family.
Looking Ahead
This survey has been invaluable. It shows us that our members are passionate and engaged, but also honest about the challenges we face: inclusivity, accessibility, relevance, and the need to modernise.
The insights gathered will be shared through a series of infographics, making the data clear and easy to digest. More importantly, they will guide how we plan meetings, socials, festivals, and campaigns in the years ahead.
Together, we can ensure our branch continues to live up to CAMRA’s promise:
Pubs, Pints, People.
