Pub of the Year
2009 Contest
This year our branch pub of the year contest was keenly fought and several pubs were in the running. The winner finally emerged as the Nag's Head in Russell Street, Reading. Runner-up was last year's winner, the Bird in Hand on Bath Road in Knowl Hill. Congratulations go to those two pubs, as well as the others on the shortlist - the Bell at Waltham St Lawrence and the Eldon Arms, Hobgoblin and Moderation in Reading.
The Nag's Head went forward to the Berkshire stage of the contest where it was up against the winners from the other Berkshire CAMRA branches: the Victoria Arms in Binfield, the Dundas Arms in Kintbury and the White Horse in Hedgerley. Eagle-eyed readers will spot that Hedgerley in actually in Buckinghamshire ... it's a long story. After a keenly-fought contest, the Nag's Head just lost out to the White Horse for the title of Berkshire Pub of the Year.
Previous Winners
The roll of honour of previous winners is as follows. There are a few gaps where our records are incomplete, so if you have any evidence that could help us fill the gaps (for instance a photo of a certificate on the wall of a pub), please get in touch on this e-mail address.
2009:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Nag's Head, Reading
Runner-up, Pub of the Year - Bird in Hand, Knowl Hill
Winner, Club of the Year - Wargrave and District Snooker Club
2008:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Bird in Hand, Knowl Hill (pictured right)
Runner Up, Pub of the Year - Bell, Waltham St Lawrence
Winner, Club of the Year - Wargrave and District Snooker Club
2007:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Bird in Hand, Knowl Hill
Runner Up, Pub of the Year - Eldon Arms, Reading
Winner, Club of the Year - Wargrave and District Snooker Club
2006:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Magpie and Parrot, Shinfield
Runner Up, Pub of the Year - Retreat, Reading
2005:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Hop Leaf, Reading
Runner Up, Pub of the Year - Allied Arms, Reading
2004:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Retreat, Reading
Runner Up, Pub of the Year - Bell, Waltham St Lawrence
2003:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Bell, Waltham St Lawrence
Runner-up, Pub of the Year - Retreat, Reading
2002:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Retreat, Reading
Winner, Town Pub of the Year - Hop Leaf, Reading
Winner, Rural Pub of the Year - Magpie and Parrot, Shinfield
2001:
Information not available.
2000:
Joint Winners, Pub of the Year - Hobgoblin, Reading and Retreat, Reading
1999:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Hop Leaf, Reading
1998:
Information not available.
1997:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Horse and Jockey, Reading
Runner-up, Pub of the Year - Retreat, Reading
1996:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Horse and Jockey, Reading
1995:
Information not available.
1994:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Old Manor, Bracknell
Following branch boundary changes this pub is now part of Berkshire South East branch
1993:
Winner, Pub of the Year - Stag and Hounds, Binfield
Following branch boundary changes this pub is now part of Berkshire South East branch
Winner, Town Pub of the Year - Wallingford Arms, Reading
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