FIVE pubs in Reading have been shortlisted for a prestigious accolade for venues in Berkshire.
The Retreat, St John’s Street, is among the venues chosen as the finalists for CAMRA’s Pub of the Year for Reading and Mid Berkshire.
It is joined by The Alehouse, The Allied Arms, Fox & Hounds in Caversham, and The Nags Head, as well as the Bell in Waltham St Lawrence.
The Alehouse took the title last year, after being awarded Cider Pub of the Year in 2012, 2013, and 2022, as well as being runner-up for Pub of the Year in 2019.
The Campaign for Real Ale is a consumer organisation which promotes and advocates for the production and availability of quality real ales, ciders, and perry, as well as venues as part of the UK’s cultural heritage.
It also champions the benefits of responsible drinking, encourages the trade more generally, and supports events and related causes through campaigning.
The Pub of the Year is awarded by CAMRA to celebrate the very best venues in the UK and showcase quality public houses worth visiting.
It judges venues by the quality and condition of the products they offer and how well they know and promote their products.
It also judges venues on cleanliness of staff and premises, as well as style and decor, and examines the welcome, levels of service, the venue’s community focus and atmosphere, and how much it aligns with CAMRA’s aims.
Members of CAMRA are eligible to vote, submitting ratings on pubs they visit with new scores per visit before overall ratings are collated into an average.
It sees regional venues competing in heats broken down by region before a national winner is chosen.
Voting closes on Sunday, March 3.
More information about the Campaign for Real Ale is available via: camra.org.uk
