Prince Charles was named "Beer drinker of the year 2002" at the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group annual dinner in recognition of his "Pub is the Hub" campaign.
The campaign launched last year encourages struggling rural pubs to offer other services such as post offices or computers in order to survive.
Beer Group chairman Nigel Jones MP said: "He has arguably done more for the pub, and especially for the struggling rural pub, than anyone else this year. By associating himself so boldly and positively with the campaign he launched, he has raised the serious and desperate concerns it addresses to a new and admirable level of customer awareness."
In a message of acceptance sent by the Prince he said: "I am utterly convinced that pubs have great potential to act as one-stop shops for essential services. Not only can they meet the needs of the communities they serve, but they create employment opportunities and give the pub a more secure future. In other words, they can become the very centre of village life."
The group also presented its "Brewer of the year award" to head brewer at Young's Ken Don. Fuller's chairman Anthony Fuller was presented with a "Lifetime achievement award".
Pictured: John Longden (centre), of Business in the Community, receives the Group's "Beer Drinker of the Year 2002" award on behalf of HRH the Prince of Wales from the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group' President, Speaker of the House of Commmons the Rt Hon Michael Martin MP (left) and the Group's Chairman, Cheltenham MP Nigel Jones.