Pub of the Year
The results of the Bristol & District branch Pub of the Year, Cider Pub of the Year and Club of the Year for 2026 have been announced.
Pub of the Year winner: Fallen Tree Micropub, Clevedon
Pub of the Year runner-up: Horseshoe, Chipping Sodbury
Cider Pub of the Year winner: Orchard Inn, Bristol
Cider Pub of the Year runner-up: Black Cat, Weston-super-Mare
Club of the Year: Backwell Village Club
The Fallen Tree Micropub, Clevedon - Pub of the Year 2026
CAMRA members and pub regulars gathered at the Fallen Tree Micropub on the evening of 20 May to celebrate its achievement and witness the presentation of their award. There were certainly a lot of people present for such a small pub!
The Fallen Tree Micropub was established in 2018 by Twisted Oak Brewery. Pete Dommett (a former employee at Twisted Oak) and Kate Dommett took over the pub in October 2020 and have since run it as an independent free house (it is no longer officially linked to Twisted Oak). Not only were our branch judges impressed by the beer, but also the atmosphere and welcome. Co-owner and landlord Pete seems to come up with ever more inventive/unhinged events to promote the pub, perhaps helping to explain why it's frequently packed.
On being told the good news Pete said: “We are delighted to receive CAMRA’s Pub of the Year award for the Bristol & District region – it’s an absolute honour! Over the five and a half years that my wife Kate and I have had the pub, we have worked really hard to create a welcoming space where everyone can enjoy great cask beer (and other drinks) from the best local breweries and producers. We’d like to thank those CAMRA members that voted for us and the judges for awarding us the top prize! And a special thank-you must go to our brilliant team of hard-working staff and to our loyal and wonderful customers – they are the people that make the Tree a truly special little pub!”
The Horseshoe, Chipping Sodbury - Pub of the Year runner-up 2026
The Horseshoe in Chipping Sodbury is another pub with a strong reputation for its welcome and community focus. The Horseshoe was our branch Pub of the Year in 2024 and it has clearly continued to impress our judges. Branch members headed there on the evening of 26 May to present their runner-up certificate and offer our congratulations.
Jo Lewis (landlady) and Matt Lewis (landlord) of the Horseshoe said that they were both absolutely delighted to be recognised again in this way by CAMRA for all the hard work put in by them and their team.
The Orchard Inn, Bristol - Cider Pub of the Year 2026
Presented Tuesday 16 June 2026
The Black Cat, Weston-super-Mare - Cider Pub of the Year runner-up 2026
Presentation Thursday 18 June, 8pm.
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The Backwell Village Club - Club of the Year 2026
The Backwell Village Club is once again our Bristol & District branch Club of the Year. Run largely by volunteers, the combination of great beer and an active focus on community events and charity fund raising (including an annual beer festival) has resulted in the club winning the accolade of being our branch Club of the Year two years in a row. Branch members gathered there on 14 May to enjoy a pleasant evening and present the award. Pictured receiving the certificate are club manager Jane Chiddy and cellar man David Smith, supported by club president Stephen Hughes.
How it works
Each year the Bristol & District branch invites local CAMRA members to nominate pubs for consideration in the branch Pub of the Year competition. The finalists from this nomination stage are then judged against various nationally designated criteria to decide the result. Pub of the Year is not just about the beer and judges are expected to consider the full customer experience and whether the pub offers that something extra.
You can read more about the selection process here: Pub of the Year selection process
Guidance on judging a CAMRA Pub of the Year is available here: Pub of the Year judging guidance
Results from previous years
Pub of the Year 2025
Winner: Rising Sun, Frampton Cottrell
Runner-up: Drapers Arms, Bristol.
Pub of the Year 2024
Winner: Horseshoe, Chipping Sodbury
Runner-up: Merchants Arms, Hotwells
Pub of the Year 2023
Winner: Siren's Calling, Portishead
Runner-up: Merchants Arms, Hotwells
Pub of the Year 2022
Winner: Shakespeare Tavern, Bristol
Runner-up: Cornubia, Bristol