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Pub of the Year/Season
Pubs
CAMRA is passionate about traditional
British beer. But
the only place to truly enjoy a pint of excellent ale is in a pub (apart, of
course, from a CAMRA beer festival).
For a thousand years the pub has been an
essential part of the British way of life: the very centre of the community.
In recent years, the traditional
British pub has come under threat like never before. Most pubs are no longer owned by breweries
but large pub owning companies (PubCos), which often
use them as a financial asset to be bought, sold or closed as the market
dictates, frequently simply for short-term profit.
We believe that an institution that has served this country so well
for so long, and still gives so much pleasure to millions of people deserves
more respect.
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Berkshire S-E branch of CAMRA takes part in a national monitoring
system to keep tabs on what is happening to our pubs across the country, and the national
results are published by CAMRA annually. |
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There are 108 pubs in this branch area (see map on HOME page) and
we like to keep an eye on what is happening. Obviously,
if there is a threat of closure to a pub then we would like to hear about it,
but we would also like to know about changes of ownership, new landlords, new interesting beers in a pub, or where
traditional ale is now on sale or has been taken out.
Please help us by letting us know about changes in any pub you have
been to by contacting the Branch Pubs Officer, Mike Smith. Email Pubs Officer
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The sixth edition
of the Berkshire Pub Guide was published by the Sadly, the guide is no longer in
print but an on-line version can be viewed by
following the link below. |
Beer Quality
Berkshire S-E of CAMRA carries out a number of important, but
enjoyable, tasks during the year. In
addition to selecting a pub to be the prestigious Pub of the Year, we also give
occasional Merit awards to licensees who we feel have provided a service over
and beyond the call of duty.
One of the most important jobs
that we undertake is the selection of entries for
Many things go into making a good pub but we believe the most
important of all is for a pub to regularly serve
traditional cask ales in top condition.
Unlike other beers, real ale is a living, breathing, pure commodity with
natural ingredients and no artificial preservatives. It needs to be stored and served
in such a way so it is in prime condition when it reaches the glass. This is second nature to all good
publicans.
In order to identify our best pubs (or a least, the ones who
consistently serve the best beer) we run a monitoring system. The more people who take part the better.
All we ask is for YOUR view on the beer quality once you have visited
a pub in our area.
How to
score:
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CAMRA - National Beer Scoring Scheme
0. Undrinkable. So poor you have to take it back or can’t finish it.
1. Poor. Beer that is anything
from undrinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment. 2.
Average. Drinkable but does not inspire in any way.
3. Good. An enjoyable pint.
4. Very Good. A very enjoyable pint. 5.
Excellent. Beyond expectations.
A very rare treat. NO HALF MARKS! |
Use the comments section to make
comments about the pubs/beers and to note any differences in beer range from
that listed in the Good Beer Guide.
Important note:
Score the way the pub has looked after
the beer not how well it has been brewed. Courage Bitter could score ‘5’ and Hop Back Summer Lightening ‘0’
if the former was in tip-top condition and the latter had gone off.
Use the top score of 5
only if you have never had the beer in better condition.
Do not score if, when you return it, it
is taken back with good grace and the pump-clip turned
round or the beer taken off sale.
How to give us your views:
Step 1.
Highlight and copy the following information:
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Name: Membership
No. & Branch (if not Berks S-E): Date of Visit: Name of Pub: Town: Beer 1 Score Price (optional) Beer 2 Score Price (optional) Beer 3 Score Price (optional) Comments: |
Step 2.
Press here to Create Email
Step 3
Paste the form into the email, complete the details and send. The email will be sent
to the branch Beer Quality Survey Analyst, Mike Smith.
Thank you for your help.
Pub of the Year
Each year the members of Berkshire S-E branch select their ‘Pub of
the Year’ (POTY). The process begins
early in the year and all members are encouraged to make a nomination.
At a specially convened Branch Meeting, the merits of each are
discussed and a vote taken to draw up a short list of about six pubs.
Members are invited to visit each of the
short-listed pubs to record their views, based on pre-determined criteria. This can either be as part of a formal branch
function or simply by individuals making a visit at a time of their choosing.
Obviously, the more members who give their verdicts,
the better the competition.
The judging of short-listed pubs is based
on the following criteria:
1.
Quality of Beer/Cider/Perry
2. Atmosphere/Style/Décor
3. Service/Welcome
4. Clientele Mix
5. Sympathy with
CAMRA Aims
6. Good Value
It is not necessary to attend any meeting to take part in the
judging – all branch members are welcome to take part.
Simply email a request to be sent a
judging form, which will be emailed to you once the short-list has been
determined. You will
be given the date by which the form must be returned. Email a Request for a POTY Judging Form.
The branch POTY is announced by 30th
April. It then goes forward into the
Regional competition against the best pubs from the other branches in
Each regional winner goes forward into the national competition to
find
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‘Pub of the Year’ 2006 The winner of
the 2006 Berkshire South East ‘Pub of the Year’ competition is The Ship Inn, Peach Street, Wokingham. Second is the
Old Manor, The other
finalist, the Crispin in Wokingham, was withdrawn due to the imminent
departure of the landlord. |
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‘Pub of the Season’ A new Award of Pub of the
Season was made in November 2006 to a pub which has
shown a marked improvement or had a commitment to consistently serving cask
ale in top condition. The winner of
the Award for Autumn 2006 was the Jack O’ Newbury in Binfield.
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Links
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Other
useful websites: CAMRA Main Site: www.camra.org.uk Our friends and colleagues
in other local CAMRA branches: Reading & Mid-Berkshire: www.readingcamra.org.uk Local Breweries # 1 (in Butts: www.buttsbrewery.com Local Breweries # 2
(outside Loddon: www.loddonbrewery.com Rebellion: www.rebellionbeer.co.uk Hogs Back: www.hogsback.co.uk Worth A Try: Beer Pages (Roger Protz) www.beer-pages.com |
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Public Transport National Rail
Enquiries: National Rail Enquiries South West Trains: South
West Trains First Great Western: First Great Western First Buses ( |
And Finally…
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Trading
Standards At CAMRA we love pubs and have great
admiration for the people who run them.
However, occasionally you may come across a licensee who doesn’t play fair; maybe regularly serving short measure
or refusing to display a price list, as required. In these circumstances, a quiet word with a local Trading
Standards Officer may not go amiss.
To locate a
Trading Standards Office anywhere in the country, visit: |
Disclaimer:
The views
expressed on this site are not necessarily those of the Campaign for Real Ale
Ltd. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information on this site is
accurate and up to date, no responsibility for errors and omissions can be
accepted.
© CAMRA 2006