Surrey Hants Borders Branch of CAMRA is delighted to announce the winners of our Pub, Cider Pub and Club of the Year competition.

Branch Pub of the Year – Alfred Free House

For the second year running Surrey Hants Borders Branch has a new recipient of our Branch Pub of the Year.

The top pub in 2020 is a first time winner of the award, the Alfred Free House, Upper Hale near Farnham. This is a friendly family run, street corner local tucked away in a leafy residential area down a very narrow road. The public bar is popular with locals and visitors alike and good conversation is the order of the day.

What really caught the judges eye was the unusual and welcome choice of real ales.

With over 200 pubs to choose from, it wasn't an easy task to pick a winner, but Alfred Free House is a worthy winner. The award isn’t just about the excellent range of beers, but also about their high quality as well as the warm and friendly atmosphere at the pub.

The Branch will be presenting a certificate to mark the success when the pub reopens.

Branch Club of the Year – Railway and Athletic Club, Woking

Unlike Alfred Free House, the Branch Club of the Year is no stranger to the top place as 2020 is the 6th successive year the club has won the award. This friendly and lively social club is tucked away near Victoria Arch, serving an ever-changing selection of ales, often from local breweries, normally three at a time. One side of the bar is sports orientated, with darts, (free to play) pool and Sky Sports, while the other side is quieter. CAMRA members are welcome at all times, simply show a CAMRA membership card or copy of the current Good Beer Guide, in which the Club is an entry.

Branch Cider & Perry Pub of the Year – Star Inn, Godalming

For the 8th time in succession the Branch Cider Pub of the Year is the Star, Godalming. The Star shines as a beacon supporting real cider, when few other pubs in the area do, whilst still selling an excellent range of real ales too.

However the Star is especially renowned for its selection of ciders and perries, with around six from an ever changing range, sourced by landlord, Andy Mounsey, directly from the National Cider Farm in Sussex. The Star usually stocks a draft mead and there is also a separate Stable Cider Bar in the garden which serves a different range of ciders together with a single real ale. This bar is open Thursday to Sunday. Again our presentation of this award scheduled for May, is postponed indefinitely.