The competition is heating up. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has named 17 regional winners from thousands of pubs across the UK in its hunt for Pub of the Year 2024 – including, for the first time, a Northern Ireland winner. And the best pub in the South West is only 45 minutes away from Bristol.
The Crossways Inn in West Huntspill has quickly gained a “reputation for good food and outstanding choice of beer, becoming a must-visit for those wanting a huge selection of well-maintained drinks.” Located on the idyllic Somerset Levels, the 17th-century inn boasts several bar areas, nine handpumps, and an ever-changing range of up to twenty-five guest cask beers per week.
This family-run boozer also features a four-star Bed & Breakfast; a large enclosed beer garden for the summer months; two open fireplaces for when it gets a bit colder; an outdoor play area for the children; and a kitchen serving proper homecooked British classics – from fish ‘n’ chips to faggots and squeak, and burgers, steaks, pies and more.
Pubs in the competition are scored on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression, and most importantly, the quality of live beer, real cider and perry. The Crossways Inn will now compete for the UK National Pub of the Year award, with judges whittling the 17 pubs down to just four in late September. An overall winner will be announced in January.
The Somerset boozer isn’t new to success, mind. Previously, it’s been the Somerset CAMRA Pub of the Season 2012. Somerset CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year 2013, 2017 – 2022 and runner-up in the SW Regional Pub of the Year 2017. This marks its greatest achievement but hopes to go even further. Last year’s UK National Pub of the Year winner was the Tamworth Tap in Staffordshire.
Andrea Briers, National Coordinator for the Pub of the Year competition says: “These amazing pubs really are the crème de la crème and I would encourage the public to seek out the 17 winners from across the nations and regions of the UK – they are top-tier pubs serving excellent beer, cider and perry, run by welcoming, hardworking staff.
“It’s also important to support your local all year round. With constant pressure from stubbornly high energy prices, fluctuating running costs and grossly unfair business rates threatening to drown pubs across the UK, it’s vital to get out and support the licensed trade.”
The top 17 ‘Pub of the Year 2024’ winners:
- Central Southern: Bell Inn, Aldworth
- East Anglia: Blackfriars Tavern, Great Yarmouth
- East Midlands: Horse and Jockey, Stapleford
- Greater Manchester: Northumberland Arms, Marple Bridge
- Kent: Nelson Arms, Tonbridge
- Greater London: Little Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill
- Merseyside and Cheshire: Turks Head, St Helens
- North East: Grey Horse, Consett
- Northern Ireland: Dog and Duck, Lisbellaw
- Scotland: Hillend Tavern, Dalgety Bay
- South West: Crossways Inn, West Huntspill
- Surrey and Sussex: Brickmakers Alehouse, Bexhill on Sea
- Wales: Cresselley Arms, Cressell Quay
- Wessex: Woodman Inn, Bridport
- West Midlands: Bailey Head, Owestry
- West Pennines: Black Horse, Preston
- Yorkshire: Three B’s, Bridlington