KEY DATES IN SPBW HISTORY
1963 SPBW founded, 6 December at Rising Sun, Epsom
1964 First branch established in Ulverston (then Lancashire) area
1965 Campden Hill, oldest surviving branch, founded at Windsor Castle, Kensington
1968 Founder Members concede that traditional draught beer from metal casks is acceptable; decision outrages purist members.
1972 SPBW and newly formed CAMRA gain publicity by protesting at exclusion from ‘Festival of Fraud’, trade-run (keg) beer festival at Alexandra Palace in October.
1973 National Executive Committee founded; Frank Manning is first Chairman.
1974 Wantz branch, second oldest surviving SPBW branch, founded at Cauliflower, Rainham, Essex
1978 SPBW runs a stand at Great British Beer Festival for the first time.
1980 London Pub of the Year competition launched: first winner, Express Tavern, Brentford.
1982 Pint in Hand: first issue in February; published quarterly ever since.
1982 First National Weekend, held in Devizes over late May bank holiday weekend.
1984 21st Anniversary Dinner at Civil Service Club, Whitehall, attended by Founder Members John Gore and John Keeble
1985 Tony Littler Trophy, inter-branch competition, first held on 7 September at Rose & Crown, Blackfriars. First winners Special Branch.
1988 25th Anniversary Dinner, Bonnington Hotel, Bloomsbury
1989 Membership records computerised following purchase of Brother BC-10XT.
1996 SPBW website launched November.
2000 First USA branch, Chesapeake Bay, based in Baltimore USA
2002 London Pub of the Year revived after 14-year gap, won by Dog & Bell, Deptford
2003 Last appearance to date at GBBF
2003 40th Anniversary Dinner at George Inn, Southwark
2013 50th Anniversary Dinner at Magpie, Liverpool Street
2017 First WoodFest, held at Castleford in July
2018 Second WoodFest, held at North Shields in July
2021 First branch in South America, Casktores, founded in July in Lujan, Argentina
2022 Third WoodFest, held at Twickenham in May
2023 Fourth WoodFest, held at Egham in May.
2023 Death of last surviving Founder Member, John Keeble, in July
2025 Fifth WoodFest, held at Brentford in May
2026 Sixth WoodFest, held at Brentford in May
