Readers will recall that Regional Director Geoff Strawbridge listed the candidates for the above and set out the criteria involved.
Judges from CAMRA’s Greater London branches have now finished their visits and subsequent deliberations and we can announce that this year’s winner is South West Essex branch’s pub of the year, the Hop Inn micropub in Hornchurch. We offer our congratulations accordingly, especially as it is their first time in the competition. It came top of the scoring for six of the branches involved.
The Hop Inn opened in December 2019 in premises that had previously been occupied by a skin clinic and is the third micropub in the borough of Havering. Up to five cask beers are usually available, plus cider, perry, wine and spirits. There is a bottle shop, the Hop Shop, next door. Events are held, usually monthly. See their website for details.
The full address is 122 North Street RM11 1SU. The nearest station is Emerson Park. The Hop Inn is closed on Mondays, opens from 4pm to 10pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 2pm to 10.30 on Thursday and Fridays, 12pm to 10.30 on Saturdays and 12pm to 9pm on Sundays.
In a separate competition, with a different set of judges, the Hop Inn also won the award for the Regional Cider Pub of the Year. The presentation was held on 22 November.
