The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has named the best four pubs in the country as part of its Pub of the Year 2022 competition - with their shortlist sampling a mix of the old and new.
Finalists include Station House in Durham, the Horse & Jockey in Stapleford, the King’s Head in Norwich, and the Tamworth Tap in Tamworth.
The four public houses will now be judged against each other to become the best in the UK, in one of the most respected awards of its kind in the industry.
A wedge-shaped pub in the shadow of a railway viaduct in Durham, The Station House was opened in 2015 by members of CAMRA, and takes a friendly 'back-to-basics' approach with an emphasis on conversation.
It offers a changing range of beer and cider, with a dark beer always on tap.
The Horse & Jockey in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire is described by CAMRA as a 'welcoming' free house boasting 13 real ales, including at least one dark beer.
Five of these are dubbed 'LocAles', meaning they have been brewed locally. The cosy pub boasts a wood burner, sports TV, light music complimented by occasional bands and a weekly pub quiz.
The King’s Head in Norwich meanwhile is a traditional two-bar city pub which has been a mandatory stop on the Norwich real ale trail since 2005.
The pub serves up to a dozen beers, most of these from Norfolk breweries.
Finally, the Tamworth Tap in Staffordshire is a 16th century part-Tudor building in the shadow of Tamworth Castle.
Ales on their eight hand pulls usually feature one from Tamworth, and there is a ‘CAMRA corner’ at the bottom of the stairs which includes a rare complete set of Good Beer Guides.
Themed events include beer tastings and ‘paint and sip’ sessions.
All the pubs in the competition are selected by CAMRA volunteers, and are judged on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix and most importantly – quality of beer
The winner will be announced by the organisation in January.
