The Orange Tree, Baldock

12/06/2026

What a cracking line-up of beers await you at your CAMRA Hertfordshire County Pub of the Year 2026!

First up a super-rare collaboration brew by Titanic Brewery and Batemans Brewery, “Wainfleet” a 4.5% modern amber ale that is very pleasant indeed!

Then from Black Country Ales a golden 4.5% English IPA, Jubilee IPA, well balanced and easy drinking for its strength.

From our friends at Burton Bridge Brewery we have their classic Bridge Bitter. 4.2% proper beery-beer!

From Buntingford Brewery the ever reliable Twitchell is on their pump. 3.8% malty golden bitter.

On the guest Indie key keg line is Level-Up American Red from Elusive Brewing, caramelly and full bodied.

Plus the classic usuals, Brewsters Brewery Hophead, Tring Brewery Mansion Mild, Titanic Plum Porter, and Greene King Brewery IPA and Abbot Ale.

Marvellous!

11/06/2026

When I’ve got time to convert it from the pen drawings I was showing Chris Hinchliff MP I’ll post them here!

Great to talk to him, he “gets” the business rates issue (get rid of them and stick a 1% turnover tax on literally every business I say!), and I hope he understands the plight of small, independent pub businesses like mine - as we are the ones most under threat at this time.

Huge congratulations to The Orange Tree, Baldock on being named CAMRA Hertfordshire County Pub of the Year 2026, a brilliant and well deserved achievement.

I had a good catch up with landlord Rob Scahill at the Hitchin Beer Festival last Friday, where we spoke about what makes pubs like The Orange Tree so special. Not just great beer, but a business at the heart of its community.

We also discussed the challenges local pubs face and making sure their voices are properly heard.

In Parliament I am pushing for business rates to be scrapped and replaced with a fairer system that sees online retail giants paying more, as well as urgent support for pubs with their energy bills.

Award winning pubs like The Orange Tree are the beating heart of our communities and I will keep pushing for the policies they need to thrive.

Photo credit to Fade to Gray Photography

10/06/2026

The 2026 GlastonTree Line-up is out!!!!

Book the weekend off, with Plans For The Weekend , Zeroes, Gee LaRoche, Owen Stephen and more!

07/06/2026

Thanks so much Brian Palmer for an outstanding Vinyl Sunday - Brian Palmer today - eight brilliant albums and wonderful reasons for playing them.

Next Sunday it’s the turn of Nigel Dickerson, see you at 4!

07/06/2026

Ready for Brian Palmer’s turn to pick 8 sides of vinyl from 4pm for Vinyl Sunday - Brian Palmer!

Some Lindisfarne perhaps? Gazza? Who knows?

06/06/2026

We are absolutely delighted, honoured and humbled to have been awarded CAMRA Hertfordshire County Pub of the Year for 2026!

Thank you so much CAMRA North Hertfordshire, Watford CAMRA, South Herts CAMRA and everyone who supported us! 🧡

31/05/2026

What an amazing afternoon of good old heavy metal that was!!!! Thank you Esther Walker for epic choices - check the list in the discussion section here on the Vinyl Sunday - Esther Walker event!

Next week it’s the turn of Brian Palmer!

31/05/2026

Testing the kit (it never fails but it gives us an excuse to put a few of our favourites on) before the main event Vinyl Sunday - Esther Walker starts at 4!

A bit of the lovely Laura Marling, “Song for our Daughter” from 2020.

22/05/2026

Sun is incoming! And we have some cracking ales for you this weekend! Starting with one of our favourites, and a LocAle to boot! Buntingford Brewery Twitchell makes an appearance!

We have another awesome traditional beery-beer in Titanic Brewery’s First Class. Marvellous malty bitter!

For those who need to avoid gluten, we have Buxton Brewery Company Deepdale, a very easy drinking Gluten Free session pale at 4%.

From Black Country Ales we have BFG - Bradley’s Finest Golden at 4.2% and very quaffable.

And we must not forget our cracking regular Indie Beers - Brewsters Brewery Hophead, Tring Brewery Mansion Mild and Titanic Plum Porter.

Finally our stalwarts from Greene King Brewery - IPA and Abbot!

Plus a load of ciders too. Enjoy!

CAMRA North Hertfordshire PotY 2024,2025,2026
CAMRA East Central Region PotY 2025
CAMRA Hertfordshire County PotY 2025.

17/05/2026

And that’s another Vinyl Sunday wrapped! An amazing collection of powerful synth and booming bass guitar. Fantastic!

Thanks so much to Rob Wallace for indulging us!

Next week it’s the turn of Nick and Anne!