The Cornwall Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, CAMRA Kernow, has announced its Pub of the Year for 2023.

Nominated by the membership and inspected individually by a number of undercover inspectors, 5 different pubs out of a potential 580 or so real ale pubs in the county made it to the final shortlist. Apart from the condition of the real ale on offer, pubs were scored on several other criteria, such as the welcome received on entry, service offered to customers, cleanliness, décor, atmosphere, whether beer prices are clearly displayed, and involvement in the local community.

At the end of the process and collation of the scores, it was found that the top three performers were very close in score totals, as might be expected in a survey of what CAMRA judges to be among the best pubs in the county. So it has been decided to recognise the two close runners-up as well as this year’s winner. The winning trio are:

CAMRA Kernow Pub of the Year 2023: The ‘front, Falmouth Silver Award: Bell Inn, Launceston Bronze Award: Royal Oak Inn, Perranwell

Presentation of the awards will take place at each pub on dates to be announced. Meanwhile, the winner now goes into the competition to find CAMRA’s Southwest Regional Pub of the Year, from which that winner is on the road towards gaining the national Pub of the Year title. Regardless of what happens from here, to finish in the top 3 of around 600 pubs (the second largest number for any CAMRA branch) is an exceptional achievement and we salute all three award winners.