CAMRA’s Pub of the Year finalists revealed

The sites have been crowned the winner in their area with Northern Ireland having its own category for the first time as it previously part of a joint Scotland and Northern Ireland competition.

Pubs were scored on atmosphere, décor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression as well as the quality of live beer, real cider and perry.

The finalists will compete to be named UK National Pub of the Year with judges whittling down the 17 shortlisted to four next month (September) with the overall winner being revealed in January next year.

Shortlisted pubs

The 2023 and 2022 UK National Pub of the Year winner was the Tamworth Tap in Staffordshire.

This year, the 17 winners from regions and nations include the Bell Inn, Aldworth in Berkshire from the central southern area.

This year’s 17 finalists are:

1. Central southern – Bell Inn, Aldworth
2. East Anglia – Blackfriars Tavern, Great Yarmouth
3. East Midlands – Horse & Jockey, Stapleford
4. Greater Manchester – Northumberland Arms, Marple Bridge
5. Kent – Nelson Arms, Tonbridge
6. Little Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill, Greater London
7. Merseyside and Cheshire – Turks Head, St Helens
8. North-east – Grey Horse, Consett
9. Northern Ireland – Dog & Duck, Lisbellaw
10. Scotland – Hillend Tavern, Dalgety Bay
11. South-west – Crossways Inn, West Huntspill
12. Surrey and Sussex – Brickmakers Alehouse, Bexhill-on-Sea
13. Wales – Cresselly Arms, Cresswell Quay
14. Wessex – Woodman Inn, Bridport
15. West Midlands – Bailey Head, Owestry
16. West Pennines – Black Horse, Preston
17. Yorkshire – Three B’s, Bridlington

According to CAMRA, the recognition of pubs and their place in communities has never been more important as the competition announcement follows the one-year anniversary of the Crooked House demolition​.

Local support

In August last year, the Staffordshire site, known as ‘Britain’s wonkiest pub’, burnt to the ground and was subsequently demolished.

The consumer organisation vowed to continue its fight for stronger planning protections and called on the new Government to introduce tougher planning enforcement options for local councils to deter ‘unscrupulous’ developers.

Pub of the Year national coordinator Andrea Briers said: “These amazing pubs really are the crème de la crème and I would encourage the public to seek out the 17 winners from across the nations and regions of the UK – they are top-tier pubs serving excellent beer, cider and perry, run by welcoming, hardworking staff.

“It’s also important to support your local all year round. With constant pressure from stubbornly high energy prices, fluctuating running costs and grossly unfair business rates threatening to drown pubs across the UK, it’s vital to get out and support the licensed trade.”