Camra names ‘Pub of the Year’ finalists

The four best pubs in the UK according to judges from the Campaign for Real Ale have been revealed, from which the Pub of the Year will be chosen in February.

The four top regional finalists from the Camra Pub of the Year competition will have a chance to be named the National Pub of the Year, which was won last year by The Salutation Inn in Gloucestershire.

The pubs are judged on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix, but most importantly the quality of beer.

A micropub from Kent has made it into the top four, reflecting the trend for small local pubs springing up across the UK this year. From almost none, there are 200 micropubs across the country, according to Camra.

The Good Beer Guide‘s Editor, Roger Protz, praised the top four pubs saying it is “no easy task” to reach this point. “These pubs have worked hard to maintain a high level of calibre that other pubs around the country should look to,” he said.

The National Pub of the Year for 2015 (chosen from the following finalists) will be announced in February 2016.

Drovers Rest, Carlisle, West Pennines

The Drovers Rest

Having been named the number one pub in the West Pennines region earlier this year, on making the top four, Sandy Williamson, manager of the Drovers Rest said: “We are so stunned and proud of getting to the top 16 pubs in the country and now to the top four, it’s almost unbelievable.

“We bought the Drover’s from a brewery two and a half years ago in a basically closed state. So to get to this point in such a short time means so much to us, our community and our local Camra branch. We’re just a small family-run country pub who loves doing what we do. Thank you to everyone.”

The pub is designed to make customers feel like they’re in three completely different rooms. There’s a games area at the back with a pool table, the bar area is “cosy and welcoming” according to Camra, with a roaring fire in winter and there is a separate dining area.

“The Drovers is very much a pub at the heart of its community and has a well-deserved reputation for excellent food and as an oasis for lots of different real ales,” it said.

Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield, Yorkshire

Kelham Island Tavern

The Kelham Island Tavern is in with a chance of winning National Pub of the Year for a third time, having won the award in both 2008 and 2009. Having been in this position previously, Trevor Wraith, manager at the Kelham Island Tavern said: “Following on from coverage that Sheffield has the best selection of real ales in the country and the recent announcement that we were judged as Camra’s ‘Yorkshire Pub of the year 2015’, it is an honour to have reached the supreme pubs part of the top 16 in the national part of the competition again. All we can do is carry on stocking a wide range and variety of well kept cask beers, in a clean, friendly and welcoming atmosphere and that seems to be the key”.

This two-room freehouse has “an impressive garden showcasing rare and local microbrewery beers, stouts and porters”, according to Camra.

The Yard of Ale, Broadstair, Kent

The Yard of Ale

After being named as the best pub in Kent, the Yard of Ale has now made it into the top four pubs in the country, leaving owner Ian Nobel saying: “This is amazing. Shawn, myself and the Yard of Ale team would like to thank all our customers, also those from Camra who voted for us to get to this stage.”

Yard of Ale is a micropub in a 19th century stable in the village of St Peter’s, that serves cask ales, real ciders and locally produced wines along with tea and coffee, handmade pork pies and Kent crisps and cheese.

Sandford Park Ale House, Cheltenham, South West

Sandford Park Alehouse

Opened in April 2014, this is a new alehouse at the far eastern end of Cheltenham High Street, backing on to Sandford Park. The main bar area wraps around a new timber staircase with bar billiards table at the far end and a large room facing beer garden.

The pub has up to seven guest ales with a good selection of ciders, imported beers as well as a range of food.

Grant Cook, general manager at the Sandford Park Ale House, said: “We were absolutely delighted to win the South West regional section of Camra Pub of the Year. We try to bring a fresh approach to the 21st century pub and are greatly encouraged by the award.

“To now hear that we are in the final four is amazing news! It will give us a platform to put on new and interesting quality beer events and also keeps a healthy pressure on us to always live up to our standards of quality, service, atmosphere and value.”