Pub of the Year

2008 Contest

Judging for the branch Pub of the Year contest is now over and the winner, for the second year running, is the Bird in Hand at Knowl Hill. Runner up is the Bell at Waltham St Lawrence. From a shortlist of six quality pubs, these are worthy winners. David and the team received their award at the Bird in Hand on 5 April.

Other pubs on the shortlist, in no particular order, were the Royal Oak in Ruscombe, the Foresters Arms in Reading, the Eldon Arms in Reading and the Magpie and Parrot in Shinfield.

We're also happy to say that the Bird in Hand has been announced as Berkshire Pub of the Year, beating off stiff competition from pubs in the other Berkshire CAMRA branches.

Winner of the Central Southern Regional Pub of the Year contest (i.e. the best pub in Berks, Bucks and Oxon) is the Royal Oak at Wantage.

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.

2008

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