The top four best pubs in Britain as judged by the Campaign for Real Ale, CAMRA, have been announced as we move closer to crowning the National Pub of the Year. The four supreme regional finalists of CAMRA’s Pub of the Year competition will have a chance to win the National Pub of the Year competition, won last year by The Salutation Inn in Gloucestershire.
A micropub from Kent has made it into the top four: this year has seen the number of micropubs soar in the UK from having none to almost 200 micropubs across the country.
The pubs are judged on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix, but most importantly – quality of beer.
The Good Beer Guide’s Editor, Roger Protz, praised the top four pubs, all featured in the Good Beer Guide 2016:
“Being named as one of the super region pubs in Britain is no easy task, and these pubs have worked hard to maintain a high level of calibre that other pubs around the country should look to. These four pubs will now be judged against each other to be crowned the best pub in Britain. “
The Supreme Regional Pubs
(West Pennines) Drovers Rest: Monkhill, Carlisle, CA5 6DB
Named the number one pub in the West Pennines region earlier this year. Inside 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 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.
(Yorkshire) Kelham Island Tavern: 62 Russell Street, Kelham Island, Sheffield, S3 8RW
The Kelham Island Tavern is in with a chance of winning National Pub of the Year for a third time, having won the prestigious award in both 2008 and 2009.
This two-room freehouse has an impressive garden showcasing rare and local microbrewery beers, stouts and porters.
(Kent) The Yard of Ale: 61 Church Street, St Peter’s, Broadstairs, CT10 2TU
After being named as the best pub in Kent, the Yard of Ale has now made it into the top supreme pubs in the country.
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.
(South West) Sandford Park Ale House: 20 High Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1DZ
This popular Cheltenham pub which has glowing reviews on Trip Advisor is now one of CAMRA’s top best pubs in the country.
Opened in April 2014, this is a smart new alehouse at the far eastern end of the 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. They have up to seven guest ales with a good selection of ciders and foreign beers as well as a good range of food.
The National Pub of the Year for 2015 (chosen from the above finalists) will be announced in February 2016.