Each quarter Cornwall branch members nominate then vote for their Pub of the Season. This is open to any Cornish pub serving real ale, also known as live beer. Voting takes place at a branch meeting, and our Pub of the Season is chosen. The criteria that each voting member decides upon are really of their own undertaking, but it is mostly about beer quality and often with a nod in the direction of pub features appropriate to the season that we are picking for, open fire for winter, gardens for summer, etc.

This generates four finalists for our Cornwall CAMRA Pub of the Year. From this stage is selected the Pub of the Year which goes forward for judging in CAMRA’s Regional and maybe then National Pub of the Year competition. Our 2025 winner was The Hole in the Wall (Bodmin) which made it all the way to the final 16 of the National Pub of the Year competition.

Our four finalists this year were:

Pub of the Season Spring – The Blue Anchor, Helston

This is a true and rare “National Treasure” of a pub and famous for its historic atmosphere and home brewed Spingo Ales. Back in 1971 when CAMRA was formed it was one of only four pubs in the UK which brewed its own beer! Since then, it has been the only brewpub to brew beer without a break. The other three closed for a period and then subsequently reopened.

Pub of the Season Summer – The ‘front, Falmouth

A perennial favourite and multiple previous winner, much loved for the quality of its huge range of real ales and harbourside location.

Pub of the Season Autumn – The Beerwolf Books, Falmouth

There is nowhere quite like this. It combines being a pub with a bookshop and is almost an amusement arcade! Add to this a great selection of unusual ales and it is no wonder that it’s so popular.

Pub of the Season Winter – The New Inn, Tywardreath

This is an unspoilt, traditional St Austell house that also serves draught Bass under covenant as well as other guest ales. A great community local and social hub for the village.

Judging

At this stage volunteers from the branch make anonymous visits to the finalists and complete scoring forms. The pubs are judged on:

• Quality and condition of real ale/cider
• Promotion and knowledge of real ale/cider
• Cleanliness and staff hygiene
• Community focus
• Service and welcome
• Style, décor and atmosphere
• Sympathy with CAMRA’s aims
• Overall impression and value

Once all the scores are in, it is a case of simple arithmetic and the Cornwall Pub of the Year emerges.

And the winner is??

The ‘front in Falmouth. What particularly impressed the judges was the pub’s commitment to serving a large range of perfectly kept ales, the warm welcome and the product knowledge of the staff. Such is the regard for the ‘front in Cornwall that it is a multi-winner of our Pub of the Year and last won in 2023.

A group of CAMRA members from Cornwall Branch led by Dave Pedlar (CAMRA Cornwall Acting Chair) gathered at the ‘front on Saturday 28 March to celebrate and drink lots of their lovely beer.

Our congratulations go out to the ‘front as well as the other three finalists.

From left to right, the ‘front staff are Josh, Faith, Max (Manager) and Adri.

Steve Barber, Russ Durbridge and Vince Curtis