Following on from being crowned Bristol & District CAMRA branch pub and club of the year for 2026, the Fallen Tree Micropub in Clevedon and the Backwell Village Club have both gone on to win their respective South West regional awards.

CAMRA’s South West region stretches from South Gloucestershire all the way down to Cornwall. It is also the first time that a micropub has won the South West regional pub of the year award.


Award presentations

Presentations for the winners take place as follows:

Backwell Village Club on Saturday 22nd Augustat 4pm.

Fallen Tree Micropub on Thursday 27th August at 7pm.


SW Regional Pub of the Year: Fallen Tree Micropub

Commenting on the pub of the year winner, CAMRA’s South West regional director Peter Bridle said: “In very challenging times for the pub trade, micropubs have grown in numbers, bucking the trend across the industry. They are proving very popular with many drinkers and it’s great to see the Fallen Tree Micropub win this award. Judges were very impressed by the service and welcome at the pub coupled with the great beer and general friendliness of the pub. The beer range is always changing, and the pub also has a good community vibe about it including fundraising for charities. It might be one of the smallest pubs in the whole South-West region, but it punches well above its weight. Very many congratulations to the Fallen Tree Micropub”.

Pete Dommett, co-owner and landlord of the Fallen Tree Micropub, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to win this award. To be crowned by CAMRA as the best pub in the South West region is an unbelievable honour. My love of real ale began when I lived in Topsham near Exeter and was lucky enough to have the famous Bridge Inn as my local! After working for over twenty years as a teacher, I turned my hobby into my profession by becoming a publican.

“As landlord at the Fallen Tree Micropub, I’m passionate about showcasing the very best beers from the best local, independent breweries. We are blessed to have some of the finest producers in the country on our doorstep and, each week, we feature more than ten different beers from many breweries in Bristol, Somerset and the rest of the South West. Cask beer is our USP – there’s nothing better than a super-fresh pint of cask ale straight from the barrel, whether it’s a classic best bitter, hoppy pale or a rich, creamy stout. The team at the Tree pride ourselves on helping customers find the perfect pint and discovering that cask is king!

“Over the six and half years that my wife Kate and I have had the pub, we have built a real community of beer-loving (and lovely!) customers. People come to the Tree for a post-work pint, a chat with friends or for one of our regular events – whether it’s a charity fundraiser, a poetry and music evening or our annual ‘Dave Night’. We’re a proper ‘local’, but we’re not a cliquey pub – absolutely everyone is welcome here. Recently, I’ve noticed an increase in younger drinkers popping in for a proper pint of beer – which is great to see.

“Thank you to CAMRA for this amazing award and a special thanks must also go to both our brilliant staff and wonderful customers – the love they have for the pub makes it a very special place indeed. The Fallen Tree Micropub may be small, but we’ve got a big heart!”.


SW Regional Club of the Year: Backwell Village Club

Backwell Village Club was founded on November 17th 1877 as Backwell Reading Rooms. The Rev. Edward Burbidge, was appointed the first President, and the club was formed with just 40 members. He was succeeded by the Rev. Edmund Caudwell, who coincidentally also held that office for the next 26 years.

In 1967, the club underwent extensive remodelling and the purpose-built structure used to this day was opened by A.E. Robinson Esq. The future looks great with the ongoing support of the club members. The next phase of the club via a 5-year plan will be to extend the function room and garden and offer great facilities to the wider public

The club has always had a link with local charities and those in need of help. In 2025, members of the club raised in excess of £8,000 for MNDA and this important legacy continues.

John Vanderwolfe, CAMRA’s regional clubs coordinator, praised the club for its very warm welcome and noted how the club was dedicated to keeping the real ale in good condition. Club members are able to suggest guest ales. The club is very well run and gets involved with community events in the area. It also hosts an annual beer festival.

Stephen Hughes, club president, said: “We are honoured to have been named CAMRA South West Regional Club of the Year, recognising our commitment to community, service, and excellence in hospitality.”

Pints West 146 - click on image to view

The Summer 2026 edition of our multi-award-winning Pints West has been published and could be appearing in a pub near you soon.

The photo on the cover is of Kimberley and Peter Jones of Honey’s Cider in Midford, near Bath - our featured cidermaker this time round. Click on the image to access a copy and read all about it (on page 8) along with plenty of other informative and entertaining articles.

For more information - and to view previous copies - head on over to the Pints West Magazine page.

Deliveries:

If you are someone who normally distributes Pints West for us, printed copies can be collected from the following pubs:
Cornubia and Lime Kiln in central Bristol, Parish Pump in Worle near Weston-super-Mare, and Royal Oak in Twerton, Bath.

If you can assist with this please email Ali Bridle ku.gro.armac.tsewhtuos@tsidWP who coordinates Pints West distribution.

"While our apples are grown in Dorset, Bristol is where the business is based and where we've built our community, so it's brilliant to bring this recognition home."

A Bristol-based cidermaker is celebrating international success after winning two silver medals at the 2026 International Brewing & Cider Awards - one of the most prestigious competitions in the global drinks industry, where only one gold, one silver and one bronze medal are awarded in each category.

Bristol producer Isaac Cider, founded by cidermaker Rollo Wood, secured the accolades following a rigorous three-day international judging process. Hundreds of ciders from countries including Sweden and Cambodia were blind-tasted by an expert panel of industry professionals.

Rollo works with estate-grown fruit from his orchards near Beaminster in Dorset, applying a craft-led, small-batch approach to production while operating the business from Bristol's independent drinks scene.

Two of Isaac Cider's bottlings were recognised in the Tannin Driven Cider categories:
· Calculus - Silver Medal, Dry Category
· Anti-Gravity - Silver Medal, Medium Category

In the Dry Category, first place went to the United States, with Isaac Cider taking second place ahead of New Zealand-underlining the scale and international competitiveness of the awards.

Often referred to as the "Olympics of the cider world", the International Brewing & Cider Awards are judged exclusively by working cider makers and brewers, making them a significant marker of peer recognition within the industry. A panel of 43 international judges assessed entries through blind tasting and discussion, rewarding technical excellence alongside real-world drinkability.

Rollo Wood, founder of Isaac Cider, said: "Winning two silver medals in such a respected international competition is a huge moment for us. To have our ciders recognised by fellow cider makers from around the world is incredibly rewarding. While our apples are grown in Dorset, Bristol is where the business is based and where we've built our community, so it's brilliant to bring this recognition home."

The awards, which have a history spanning more than 125 years, are among the longest-running in the industry and are known for their rigorous judging standards and global reach.

The success also reflects the continued strength of Bristol's independent drinks sector, with local producers increasingly gaining recognition on the international stage.

Isaac Cider's can currently be injoyed around Bristol in the following venues.
Pubs: Gallimaufry, Tobacco Factory, Christmas Steps, Swan with Two Necks.
Restaurants: Bianchis, Pazzo, Cotto, Pasta Ripiena, Bravas, Gambas, Cargo Cantina.
Bottle shops: Corks of Cotham and Corks of North Street, Grape and Grind.