Pub of the Year (POTY)
Tendring CAMRA has selected a branch pub of the year (POTY) each year since the branch was founded in 2006 (the first such vote being for the 2007 Pub of the Year). After the shortlist of pubs for the Good Beer Guide has been decided in early December members are asked to revisit the top five between then and early February and score each pub in a number of categories based on the same categories that will be used in later rounds of the national competition should our branch pub get that far through the process. Each category is marked out of 10 with the first four categories scores being doubled to calculate a total for each pub.
Quality and Condition of Product
- It is the quality and condition that are important, and NOT the number available.
- Aspects to consider include: is it stale, is it too warm or too cold, and does it taste right for the style. Personal tastes for particular styles must be ignored.
Promotion and Knowledge of Product
- Is there clear and obvious support and promotion of real ale (real cider / perry if applicable)? Examples include: meet the brewer (cider maker) events, beer festivals, and trips to breweries (cider producers) or other festivals.
- Staff should enthusiastically promote real ale (real cider / perry if applicable) and be able to answer simple queries in relation to these products.
- The provision of information on products, producers, suppliers, etc. is desirable.
Cleanliness and Staff Hygiene
- Toilets should be hygienic and clean with hot water, soap, suitable hand drying facilities etc.
- The pub should be clean throughout, including bar tops, tables and glasses.
- Staff should observe good hygiene practices, eg correct handling of glasses, not eating behind the bar, clean hands and surfaces regularly etc.
Community Focus
- There should be a sense of community that is inclusive and welcoming to all age groups and sectors of the community. Do regular customers interact well with strangers?
- There should be support for local activities, such as sports teams, local groups, and local celebrations. Is there a notice board that lists local events, activities, or information on the local area?
- Further information can be found on https://camra.org.uk/community-pubs.
Service and Welcome
- All should be welcome. No aspect of the pub should cause offense by anything that could be offensive to a consumer due to their discriminatory nature. This includes websites and other aspects of social media.
- Service should be welcoming, friendly, polite, and also prompt whenever possible. If it is busy, a friendly acknowledgement of your presence is desirable.
Style, Décor and Atmosphere
- There should be a comfortable, pleasant and safe environment throughout
- The style should show respect for the building and the décor should enhance it. Furnishing should be in a good state of repair.
- Is there a friendly atmosphere?
- Considering the time and day of the week, is it busy enough to create a good atmosphere?
Sympathy with CAMRA’s Aims
- Prices and opening hours should be clearly displayed.
- You should get a full measure or a top up without asking. Are oversized glasses used?
- Are there attempts to stimulate interest in the sorts of issues we’re concerned about?
- Real ale, cider or perry should not be sold using misleading dispense methods.
- It should be clear who has brewed ‘house branded’ real ale, cider or perry.
- There should not be any inappropriate noisy electronic amusement machines.
- Real ales should not be served through tight sparklers unless brewed to be dispensed in that way.
- If a number of real ales are available a range of styles and strengths should be offered and a local product, where available.
Overall Impression and Value
- This category covers the undefined elements that are not considered elsewhere.
- Are other products/services that may enhance a visit available, such as quality soft drinks?
- Did you enjoy your visit? Did you spend more time than you had expected or wish you had been able to stay longer? Would you look forward to a return visit?
- Taking into account the style of establishment and its location, did you feel that you received reasonable value for money? CAMRA discounts should not influence this.
Cider Pub of the Year
In some years we have also selected a branch cider pub of the year (Cider POTY). The shortlists were generally chosen by our cider representative, who best knew the branch cider serving pubs, and used the same categories during judging as for POTY above.
Previous Winners
2026
New Bell, Harwich
2026 saw the New Bell win for the second consecutive year.
2025
New Bell, Harwich
2025 saw the first win for the New Bell for the current owners, and the first win for the pub since 2011.
2024
Maybush, Great Oakley
2024 was the second win for Tendring’s first community owned pub. Pictured here is branch chairman Peter handing the certificate to Ian whose hard work over the years in keeping the pub’s beers so well has been much appreciated.
2023
Railway Tavern, Brightlingsea
2023 was a well deserved second win for Sarah and Alex after having had to close for most of the year they previously won, 2020.
Ship, Kirby-le-Soken (Cider POTY)
The Ship always has a good range of ciders available, and was our Cider Pub of the Year in 2023. Pictured it Tracey, our cider representative, presenting the winner’s certificate to Tony at their summer beer and cider festival.
2022
Maybush, Brightlingsea
The first win for Tendring’s first community owned pub. If anyone has a photograph of the presentation, which was probably on the 18th May 2022, please can we have a copy.
Ye Olde Cherry Tree, Little Oakley (Cider POTY)
Steve Munn considers his winner’s certificate, presented to him days before he completed the sale of the pub he had helped save (by buying it) around (or slightly before) the time the branch was formed.
2021
Ship, Kirby-le-Soken
The first win as real ale pub of the year for the Ship, though a previous twice winner (and future winner) of Cider Pub of the Year. Voting was delayed in 2021 due to no face-to-face meetings in the early part of the year, so according to old emails presentation of the certificate was during our Christmas Jumper trip. This was in the pub that day, but if anyone has a photo of the presentation can they please let us have a copy.
2020
Railway Tavern, Brightlingsea
Sarah’s first win was slightly spoiled by having to close for much of 2020. Having been announced as winner in March the certificate couldn’t be presented until September. They are though the only pub who have been Pub of the Year for an 18 month year. Pictured is Sarah receiving the certificate from Peter, who isn’t standing at the bar (see sign above him).
White Hart, Weeley Heath (Cider POTY)
Mark and Sally’s second time winning cider pub of the year, presented here by branch cider representative Tracey. If you ever see them on display, 2020 was the year we were sent template documents to complete and print ourselves.
2019
Hanover Inn, Harwich
Robert and Teresa won pub of the year in 2019 before later selling the pub. As at 2025 they can be found at Ye Olde Cherry Tree in Little Oakley
Globe, Harwich (Cider POTY)
With Tracy and Steve receiving the Cider pub of they year award from Tracey, Harwich completed a rare “double” in our pubs of the year competition in 2019.
2018
White Hart, Weeley
Mark and Sally won pub of the year for the second year in a row in 2018.
Ship, Kirby-le-Soken (Cider POTY)
Tony also won cider pub of the year for the second year in a row in 2018. If anyone has a photo please can we have a copy – here we have re-used the one from 2017.
2017
White Hart, Weeley
Mark and Sally were getting into the habit of winning, winning the pub of the year again in 2017, having won it in 2015 and cider pub of the year in 2016.
Ship, Kirby-le-Soken (Cider POTY)
Tony’s first win in either pub of the year or cider pub of the year, but as you’ll have seen above by no means the last.
2016
White Hart, Weeley (Cider POTY)
Mark and Sally had their first cider pub of the year win in 2016, after their pub of the year win in 2015
For older winners we can’t currently find any photos. If you have any we would much appreciate them.
2015
White Hart, Weeley
Mark and Sally’s first pub of the year win.
Old Lifeboat House, Clacton (Cider POTY)
The Lifeboat’s first cider pub of the year win. After winning pub of the year three years in a row in 2014 the branch voted that if a pub won pub of the year or cider pub of the year two times in a row then they couldn’t be considered for the same award in the following year.
2012 to 2014
The Old Lifeboat House in Clacton won pub of the year in 2012, 2013, and 2014, and the Alma Inn in Harwich won cider pub of the year in 2013 and 2014, the first two years the cider award was awarded by the branch. Before 2012 the regional cider pub of the year round wasn’t based on branch winners, but members could nominate pubs that should be considered (with the branch nominating the Railway Tavern in Brightlingsea in November 2011 to be considered in 2012, and in April 2011 we were informed that someone – we know not who – had also nominated them for the 2011 award).
The winning pubs before 2012 have all changed hands since.
- 2011 – New Bell, Harwich
- 2010 – Haywain, Little Bromley
- 2009 – Haywain, Little Bromley
- 2008 – Olde Cherry Tree, Little Oakley
- 2007 – New Bell, Harwich
In 2012 Trev from Colchester CAMRA let us know of the following awards presented to pubs in Tendring when Tendring branch was still part of the Colchester and Northeast Essex branch.
- Dave & Brian – Crab & Winkle Champion Mild of East Anglia 2001-2002
- Dave English – Railway Tavern Overall POTY 2002
- Mark & Sally – White Hart Weeley for sponsoring glasses 2002 & 2003
- Steve & Julie – Ye Olde Cherry Tree for sponsoring and obtaining licensed 1999-2003 inc Harwich 2002
- Steve & Julie – Ye Olde Cherry Tree Rural POTY 2004
- Richard & Sue – New Bell Harwich Most improved award 2004/5
- Steve & Ruth – Red Lion Kirby Overall POTY 2005