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Pubs

CAMRA is passionate about traditional British beer. But the only place to truly enjoy a pint of excellent ale is in a pub (apart, of course, from a CAMRA beer festival).
For a thousand years the pub has been an essential part of the British way of life: the very centre of the community.
In recent years, the traditional British pub has come under threat like never before. Most pubs are no longer owned by breweries but large pub owning companies (PubCos), which often use them as a financial asset to be bought, sold or closed as the market dictates, frequently simply for short-term profit.
We believe that an institution that has served this country so well for so long, and still gives so much pleasure to millions of people deserves more respect.
Berkshire S-E branch of CAMRA takes part in a national monitoring system to keep tabs on what is happening to our pubs across the country, and the national results are published by CAMRA annually.
There are 108 pubs in this branch area (see map on HOME page) and we like to keep an eye on what is happening. Obviously, if there is a threat of closure to a pub then we would like to hear about it, but we would also like to know about changes of ownership, new landlords, new interesting beers in a pub, or where traditional ale is now on sale or has been taken out.

Please help us by letting us know about changes in any pub you have been to by contacting the Branch Pubs Officer, Mike Smith. Email Pubs Officer
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Beer Quality

Berkshire S-E of CAMRA carries out a number of important, but enjoyable, tasks during the year. In addition to selecting a pub to be the prestigious Pub of the Year, we also give occasional Merit awards to licensees who we feel have provided a service over and beyond the call of duty.
One of the most important jobs that we undertake is the selection of entries for Britain’s best-selling pub guide, the Good Beer Guide.

Many things go into making a good pub but we believe the most important of all is for a pub to regularly serve traditional cask ales in top condition. Unlike other beers, real ale is a living, breathing, pure commodity with natural ingredients and no artificial preservatives. It needs to be stored and served in such a way so it is in prime condition when it reaches the glass. This is second nature to all good publicans.

In order to identify our best pubs (or a least, the ones who consistently serve the best beer) we run a monitoring system. The more people who take part the better.

All we ask is for YOUR view on the beer quality once you have visited a pub in our area.
How to score:
CAMRA - National Beer Scoring Scheme


0. Undrinkable. So poor you have to take it back or can’t finish it.
1. Poor. Beer that is anything from undrinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment.
2. Average. Drinkable but does not inspire in any way.
3. Good. An enjoyable pint.
4. Very Good. A very enjoyable pint.
5. Excellent. Beyond expectations. A very rare treat.

NO HALF MARKS!


Use the comments sec­tion to make comments about the pubs/beers and to note any differences in beer range from that listed in the Good Beer Guide.

Important note:
Score the way the pub has looked after the beer not how well it has been brewed. Courage Bit­ter could score ‘5’ and Hop Back Summer Lightening ‘0’ if the former was in tip-top con­dition and the latter had gone off.

Use the top score of 5 only if you have never had the beer in better condition.
Do not score if, when you return it, it is taken back with good grace and the pump-clip turned round or the beer taken off sale.

How to give us your views:

Step 1.
Highlight and copy the following information:

BERKSHIRE S-E BEER QUALITY REPORT


Name:
Membership No. & Branch (if not Berks S-E):
Date of Visit:
Name of Pub:
Town:
Beer 1ScorePrice (optional)
Beer 2ScorePrice (optional)
Beer 3ScorePrice (optional)
Comments:


Step 2.
Press here to Create Email

Step 3
Paste the form into the email, complete the details and send. The email will be sent to the branch Beer Quality Survey Analyst, Mike Smith.

Thank you for your help.
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Pub of the Year

Each year the members of Berkshire S-E branch select their ‘Pub of the Year’ (POTY). The process begins early in the year and all members are encouraged to make a nomination.
At a specially convened Branch Meeting, the merits of each are discussed and a vote taken to draw up a short list of about six pubs.
Members are invited to visit each of the short-listed pubs to record their views, based on pre-determined criteria. This can either be as part of a formal branch function or simply by individuals making a visit at a time of their choosing.

Obviously, the more members who give their verdicts, the better the competition.
The judging of short-listed pubs is based on the following criteria:
  1. Quality of Beer/Cider/Perry
  2. Atmosphere/Style/Décor
  3. Service/Welcome
  4. Clientele Mix
  5. Sympathy with CAMRA Aims
  6. Good Value
It is not necessary to attend any meeting to take part in the judging – all branch members are welcome to take part.
Simply email a request to be sent a judging form, which will be emailed to you once the short-list has been determined. You will be given the date by which the form must be returned. Email a Request for a POTY Judging Form

The branch POTY is announced by 30th April. It then goes forward into the Regional competition against the best pubs from the other branches in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and a part of Herts. Judges from each branch visit each of the Regional entries and the winner announced after 31st July.

Each regional winner goes forward into the national competition to find Britain’s Best Pub. The winner is announced during National Pubs Week in February.

‘Pub of the Year’
2007

Following on from its success in being the first winner of a Berkshire
South East Pub of the Season award (see below), the winner of the 2007 Pub
of the Year competition is The Jack O'Newbury, Terrace Road North, Binfield.

A very fine runner-up is the Wheelwrights Arms, Davis Way, Winnersh.

‘Pub of the Season’
A new Award of Pub of the Season was made in November 2006 to a pub which has shown a marked improvement or had a commitment to consistently serving cask ale in top condition. The winner of the Award for Autumn 2006 was the Jack O’ Newbury in Binfield.
‘Pub of the Season’
Summer 2007

The winner of the Summer 2007 Pub of the Season Award is The Roebuck, Binfield.

And Finally ...
Trading Standards
At CAMRA we love pubs and have great admiration for the people who run them. However, occasionally you may come across a licensee who doesn’t play fair; maybe regularly serving short measure or refusing to display a price list, as required.
In these circumstances, a quiet word with a local Trading Standards Officer may not go amiss.

  • Bracknell Forest 01344 351400
  • Windsor & Maidenhead (covers Ascot area) 01628 683683
  • Wokingham 0118 974 6400


To locate a Trading Standards Office anywhere in the country, visit:

www.tradingstandards.gov.uk
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Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are not necessarily those of the Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information on this site is accurate and up to date, no responsibility for errors and omissions can be accepted.
WEBSITE LAST UPDATED: 26th November 2008