CAMRA branches around the country have chosen their pubs of the year and these have now gone through the judging process at regional level. Below are the final 16, in order of the CAMRA region in which they are located. All are good; give them a try if you happen to be in the area.
The Regional Pub of the Year for Greater London is the Cockpit in Royal Parade, Chislehurst (BR7 6NR). This is their fourth consecutive year as Bromley branch’s pub of the year (2023 to 2026) but is their first regional award. The Cockpit is the area’s first micropub and is shared, most unusually, with a florist’s shop. It features a regularly changing selection of cask ale and ciders, mostly from small brewers around the country.
Bromley branch is also home to this year’s Greater London Regional Club of the Year, with the Orpington Liberal Club winning the award for the third year running. They are maintaining their standards against increasing competition. Congratulations to them both. There will be more about them in the next edition.
• East Anglia: Railway Arms, Saffron Walden (CB11 3HQ) – a lovingly restored Victorian street-corner pub saved by its local community in 2020;
• East Central: Malt Shovel Tavern, Northampton (NN1 1QF) – opposite the Carlsberg brewery!
• East Midlands: Railway, Ketton (PE9 3RD) – Grade II-listed village gem;
• Merseyside and Cheshire: Turks Head, St. Helens (WA10 2DQ) – a Tudor-style pub dating back to the 1870s;
• North East: Olde Cross, Old Ryton Village (NE40 3QP) – attractive Edwardian, half-timbered community-owned pub;
• North West: Northumberland Arms, Marple Bridge (SK6 5HD) – restored and run by its community;
• Northern Ireland: Dog and Duck Inn, Lisbellaw (BT94 5ER) – a family run, dog-friendly country pub;
• Scotland: Steam Packet Inn, Isle of Whithorn (DG8 8LL) – overlooks the harbour and is home to the Five Kingdoms brewery;
• South Central: Bell, Waltham St Lawrence (RG10 0JJ) – classic, half-timbered, 14th-century pub;
• South East: Nelson Arms, Tonbridge (TN9 1UP) – beautifully refurbished side street local with a nautical theme;
• South West: Fallen Tree, Clevedon (BS21 7PD) – the first micropub in North Somerset;
• Wales: Mold Alehouse, Mold (CH7 1AL) – micropub in a Grade II-listed building;
• West Central: Alma Inn, Linton (HR9 7RY) – multi-room pub that is home to the Linton Music Festival;
• West Midlands: Tamworth Tap, Tamworth (B79 7LR) – now legendary three times winner of this competition (2022, 2023 and 2025) that is clearly maintaining its standards;
• Yorkshire: Countryman’s Inn, Hunton (DL8 1PY) – welcoming community-owned free house, serving Yorkshire beers.
It is encouraging to see the number of community owned pubs included, along with historic pubs and micropubs. These 16 will be whittled down to a final four to be announced in October. The overall winner will be announced in January. Watch this space…