You can’t beat a good pub, whether it’s for a hearty roast, catch up with friends or first date. We’re sure you’re loyal to your local, but there’s now a new list of spots to try out, thanks to the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) Pub of the Year awards.
Each year, over 200 Camra branches select their pub of the year. These then go through to a regional competition to select the 16 top pubs, which are then whittled down to four finalists – one of which becomes the winner.
Each place is judged on its atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, community focus and the quality of the beer, so you can be sure they’re well worth a visit.
Walking away with the top spot this year is The Bell Inn in Aldworth, Berkshire – a Grade-II listed building. The panel of judges praised it for its community focus, relaxed ambience and great beer. It’s not the first time it’s won the award, having last scooped the prize 30 years ago.
The pub has been family-run for 250 years and manager Hugh Macaulay, whose parents, Heather and Ian, earned the award the first time round, shared his thoughts on winning a second time. “It’s a wonderful thing to be recognised for driving quality year after year. Not much has changed because we have kept our interior unspoilt all this time, and intend to keep it that way for years to come.”
Camra’s Pub of the Year organiser Ben Wilkinson said the judges were impressed with how a stranger entering the pub was “treated like a regular”. “It’s clear that the local customers use the pub as a community centre as well as a place to drink, and the warm welcome and knowledgeable staff made us feel right at home,” he said.
Followed closely behind were the other three finalists: The Swan With Two Necks in Pendleton, Lancashire; The George & Dragon in Hudswell, North Yorkshire; and Red Lion in Preston, Hertfordshire.
The full list of the 16 regional champions are below:
Central Southern - The Bell Inn Aldworth, Berkshire
East Anglia - Red Lion, Preston, Hertfordshire
East Midlands - Smithfield, Derby, Derbyshire
Greater Manchester - Flying Horse Hotel, Rochdale
Kent - The Admirals Arm, Queenborough
London - Hope, Carshalton
Merseyside - Cricketers Arms, St. Helens
North East - Grey Horse, Consett
Scotland & Northern Ireland - Bridge Inn, Peebles
South West - Tom Cobley, Spreyton, Devon
Surrey / Sussex - Hornet, Chichester, Sussex
Wales - Mansel Arms, Porthyrhyd, Carmarthenshire
Wessex - The Firkin Shed, Bournemouth
West Midlands - Prince of Wales, Shrewsbury
West Pennines - Swan with Two Necks, Pendleton, Lancashire
Yorkshire - George & Dragon, Hudswell