CAMRA logo Campaigning for Real Ale in the York area Billy Barrel votes for his Pub of the Season
Pubs Of The Season
Every quarter we select a Town and a Country Pub of the Season. This is done by ballot at our branch meetings in October, January, April and July. We make a conscious effort to spread the net as widely as possible and we are still finding new pubs that we feel are worth bringing to the drinking public's attention; we see no point in choosing our own personal favourites again and again.

Shortlists of three are agreed from all nominations received at the preceding branch meeting. Any branch member can make nomination(s) to the Secretary before the meeting by email, telephone or letter. Any pub that sells real ale in the branch area can be nominated, except any that have won the award in the previous year. You need to be prepared to briefly address the meeting (or find someone else to do it on your behalf) on why your pub(s) should be chosen. Alternatively, you can submit a written report for the Chair (or another nominated person) to read out to the meeting. We arrange a celebration event at the winning pubs and it is traditional for the nominator to present the coveted framed certificate.

See the Socials page for details of the presentation socials; these are always very convivial events at which everyone is welcome.

Town Pub Autumn 2009

Two pubs that have both just passed an anniversary are the winners this Autumn. In Town, the winner is the Waggon & Horses on Lawrence Street, which opened its doors as a Batemans tied house in June 2008. Batemans refurbished the pub to a high standard, creating four separate and distinctive drinking areas. The snug behind the bar always provides a quiet refuge, while the front room is a good spot to watch televised sport; there’s also a secluded beer garden tucked away at the back. As well as beers by Batemans, including the gorgeous Mild (how do they pack so much taste into a 3% ABV beer?) there are interesting guests; often these are from other Lincolnshire brewers, but there is also a LocAle, with one from Rooster’s a permanent fixture. There have been two hugely enjoyable beer festivals, with a third to come this autumn. It’s run by Paul and Mandy Marshall, who came here from a rural Batemans pub, where they were the holders of the company’s Publicans of the Year title. Since the opening they’ve worked very hard in what is a very different pub to establish the Waggon & Horses, and it’s a credit to them that it is now considered to be an integral part of York’s real ale scene

Country Pub Autumn 2009

In the Country, Robert and Sue Franklin took over at the Bay Horse Inn in Terrington on July 12th 2008 and have enjoyed a really fantastic first year. The pub, a genuine free house with a homely atmosphere, is situated in the heart of the village and enjoys a beautiful rural location. There’s a dedicated bar area, with the other open plan type rooms set up for dining or drinking depending on demand and functions. It’s well-supported by the village choir, clubs such as bowls, tennis and garden, the Women’s Institute and plenty of other groups who use it for meetings and socials. The customer base is growing every week with newcomers arriving to sample the excellent food, for which the pub has a great reputation, and real ales. Why not try the Early Bird offer: you get a 10% reduction from your entire bill if you order food and drinks between 5.30pm and 7pm Wednesday to Saturday. Behind the pub is the Storyteller Brewery, which itself celebrates its first birthday on September 12th. Robert was an award-winning home brewer before he opened his micro-brewery, and joined our LocAle scheme as soon as he opened.

Previous Winners

For the Town winners, the location is York unless otherwise specified.

Town Country
Autumn 2009 Waggon & Horses Bay Horse Inn, Terrington
Summer 2009 Punch Bowl, Blossom Street Boot & Shoe, Ellerton
Spring 2009 Judges Lodgings Gait, Millington
Winter 2008 Guy Fawkes Wadkin Arms, Osgodby
Autumn 2008 Three-Legged Mare Cross Keys, Thixendale
Summer 2008 Swan, Clementhorpe Forresters Arms, Kilburn
Spring 2008 Lysander Arms George & Dragon, West Haddlesey
Winter 2007 George & Dragon, Kirkbymoorside Barnes Wallis, Howden Station
Autumn 2007 Jackdaw, Tadcaster Farmers Arms, Fridaythorpe
Summer 2007 Yorkshire Terrier Crown & Cushion, Welburn
Spring 2007 Brigantes Wheatsheaf, Burn
Winter 2006 Rook & Gaskill Blacksmiths Arms, Lastingham
Autumn 2006 Kings Head, Kirkbymoorside Jolly Farmers, Leavening
Summer 2006 Blue Bell Ferry Boat Inn, Thorganby
Spring 2006 Maltings Fleece, Bishop Wilton
Winter 2005 Ackhorne Three Hares, Bilbrough
Autumn 2005 Phoenix Wombwell Arms, Wass
Summer 2005 Golden Lion New Inn, Cropton
Spring 2005 Rose & Crown St. Vincent Arms, Sutton upon Derwent
Winter 2004 Tap & Spile White Swan, Deighton
Autumn 2004 Golden Slipper Blacksmith's, Lastingham
Summer 2004 Minster Inn Blacksmith's Arms, Newton on Ouse
Spring 2004 Royal Oak, Tadcaster Wheatsheaf, Burn
Winter 2003 Rook & Gaskill Ferryboat, Thorganby
Autumn 2003 George, Easingwold Malt Shovel, Oswaldkirk
Summer 2003 Golden Ball Jug & Bottle, Bubwith
Spring 2003 Olde Starre Inn Agar Arms, Warthill
Winter 2002 Swan Greyhound, Riccall
Autumn 2002 Tap & Spile Spotted Ox, Tockwith
Summer 2002 Last Drop Inn Appletree Inn, Marton
Spring 2002 Golden Lion Alice Hawthorn, Nun Monkton
Winter 2001 Blue Bell Half Moon, Helperby
Autumn 2001 Minster Inn St. Vincent Arms, Sutton upon Derwent
Summer 2001 Phoenix Crown, Hemingbrough
Spring 2001 Angel & White Horse, Tadcaster Stone Trough, Kirkham Abbey
Winter 2000 Three Cranes Grey Horse, Elvington
Autumn 2000 Wellington Inn Barnes Wallis, Howden Station
Summer 2000 Carlton Tavern, Acomb Three Hares, Bilbrough
Spring 2000 Victoria Alice Hawthorn, Nun Monkton
Winter 1999 Ackhorne Jug, Chapel Haddlesey
Autumn 1999 Saddle, Fulford Kings Arms, North Duffield
Summer 1999 Maltings Greyhound, Saxton
Spring 1999 Tap & Spile Wheatsheaf, Burn
Winter 1998 Swan Ferryboat, Thorganby
Autumn 1998 Sun, Acomb Ferry Inn, Cawood
Summer 1998 Phalanx & Firkin Plough, Burton Salmon
Spring 1998 Royal Oak, Selby Cross Keys, Thixendale
Winter 1997 Rose & Crown Spotted Ox, Tockwith
Autumn 1997 Golden Ball White Swan, Kirkbymoorside
Summer 1997 Minster Inn Barnes Wallis, Howden Station
Spring 1997 Golden Lion Alice Hawthorn, Nun Monkton
Winter 1996 Cricketers, Selby Station, Easingwold
Autumn 1996 Saddle, Fulford Ulleskelf Arms, Ulleskelf
Summer 1996 Masons Arms Jolly Farmers, Leavening
Spring 1996 Royal Oak St. Vincent Arms, Sutton upon Derwent
Winter 1995 Albion Vaults, Selby Barnes Wallis, Howden Station
Autumn 1995 Ackhorne New Inn, Cropton
Summer 1995 Lighthorseman Kings Arms, North Duffield
Spring 1995 Brewers Arms Jolly Farmers, Leavening
Winter 1994 Maltings Hemingbrough Hall Hotel
Autumn 1994 Blue Bell Golden Lion, Helperby
Summer 1994 Wellington Inn New Inn, Cropton
Spring 1994 York Beer Shop Alice Hawthorn, Nun Monkton
Winter 1993 Ackhorne Ferry Inn, Cawood
Autumn 1993 Maltings Station, Easingwold
Summer 1993 Clarence Gardens Hotel Wombwell Arms, Wass
Spring 1993 John Bull Golden Lion, Helperby

Before this we selected a single winner from our entire branch area.

Winter 1992 Spread Eagle, York
Autumn 1992 Blue Bell, York
Summer 1992 Station, Easingwold
Spring 1992 Tap & Spile, York
Winter 1991 Minster Inn, York
Autumn 1991 Golden Ball, York
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