CAMRA pub of the year finalists revealed

January 11, 2008: The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has announced the finalists in its national pub of the year contest.

CAMRA members from across the UK visited thousands of pubs before deciding on 16 regional winners. However, only four of these pubs could be put forward for the national final. The overall winner will be announced on February 15, on the eve of CAMRA's Community Pubs Week, which runs until February 23.

The pubs up for the national title are: the Turk's Head, St Helen's, Merseyide; the Land of Liberty, Peace and Plenty, Heronsgate, Hertfordshire; the Old Spot, Dursley, Gloucestershire; and the Blue Peter Hotel, Kirkcolm, Dumfries and Galloway.

CAMRA's director of pubs, Julian Hough, said: “There are around 60,000 pubs in the UK and to be named the very best is an incredible honour. Each of these pubs works tremendously hard to ensure the standard of their beer is matched only by their warm welcome. It will be exciting to see who emerges as the overall winner on February 15.”

The competition is judged by the CAMRA membership. Each of the 197 branches vote for their favourite pub. They are judged on criteria such as customer service, decor, clientele mix, value for money, and the quality of their real ale. The branch winners are entered into 16 regional competitions and then the 16 winners battle it out to make the grand final which comprises four pubs.