Birmingham

Campaign for Real Ale

Campaign for Real Ale

Pub of the Year

How is Pub of the Year Decided?

Birmingham CAMRA selects its Pub of the Year using a three-step process: first, a longlist is produced using members' beer scores from throughout the year; then, all local members are invited to vote to decide a shortlist; and, finally, local members judge and rank this shortlist to find our winner.

Long List
 a. NBSS data from February to December is used to calculate the thirty best pubs and taprooms for real ale quality
 b. All clubs are removed from the list.
 c. Any ineligble pubs or venues that are at risk are also removed (e.g. incompatible policies, known pending closure or change of management, etc.)

The long list is published and sent to Birmingham branch members:
 a. Email Link to the Online Voting Form to Members Using the CAMRA Comms Tool.

Select Short list:
Birmingham Branch members (only) vote, one vote each, votes must be verified with CAMRA membership number
 a. The eight pubs with the most votes form the short list.

Publish short list:
 a. Voting forms are printed for the Branch Meeting & distributed to attending Birmingham Branch members.
 b. Voting form is created as PDF, emailed to Branch Members using the CAMRA Comms Tool & placed on the Branch Website

Branch Members Vote:
 a. Voting form requires voter to have visited ALL pubs & obtained stamp.
 b. Reverse of voting form to have survey method (as per regional POTY & National POTY competitions)
 c. Votes by post are acceptable
 d. Votes by email are acceptable where a suitably high resolution scan is submitted, allowing verification of pub stamps
 e. Deadline is the March AGM meeting

POTY is decided:
 a. Votes are counted at the next branch meeting after the deadline. (i.e. March Meeting)
 b. Votes are verified to ensure that:
  i. The Name & CAMRA membership number correspond to a Birmingham branch member in good standing
  ii. That all pubs have recognisable stamps/signatures as evidence of visits
  iii. That the person voting should not be disqualified for having a conflict of interest.
 c. Votes are counted by 2 CAMRA members who are not on the branch committee.
 d. Voting method is STV (single transferrable vote)
  i. Sort forms into a pile for each pub, according to first preference votes
  ii. Eliminate from the contest any pubs with no first place votes
  iii. Count vote pile for each pub & record results
  iv. The pub or pubs with the lowest vote count are eliminated from the contest and their votes reallocated
  v. To re-allocate a vote, it goes to whichever pub still in the contest is highest placed on the form
  vi. Any vote for which no remaining pubs have preferences stated are set aside
  vii. Repeat steps iii. to vi. until 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners are identified
  viii. If there is a tie for a place then the tie is broken by identifying the pub with the most 1st place votes. If that also ties then 2nd place votes, etc. Ties all the way down = Joint Award.
 e. Vote result, including final counts for each pub, are announced at the meeting. (May be tweeted etc immediately after announcement)
 f. No identifiable information relating to individual votes or earlier round counts may be published.
 g. Voting papers are retained, sealed, in branch archive, in case of appeal.


Pub of the Year 2022/2023
Gold Award - Hop & Scotch, Kings Heath.
Silver Award - Craven Arms, City Centre
Bronze Award - Bull, Price Street.

Pub of the Year Finalists 2022/2023

  • Wellington, City Centre
  • Colmore, City Centre
  • Wildcat Tap, Stirchley
  • Post Office Vaults, City Centre
  • Good Intent, City Centre

Pub of the Year 2021/2022
Gold Award - Bull (Price St).
Silver Award - Craven Arms.
Bronze Award - Colmore.

Pub of the Year Finalists 2021/2022

  • Bartons Arms.
  • Jewellers Arms.
  • Lamp Tavern.
  • Old Moseley Arms.
  • Post Office Vaults.
  • Wellington.
  • White Swan.

Pub of the Year 2019/2020/2021
Gold Award - Jewellers Arms.
Silver Award - Old Moseley Arms.
Bronze Award - The Lamp Tavern.

Pub of the Year Finalists 2019/2020/2021

  • Burning Soul Brewery.
  • The Craven Arms.
  • Post Office Vaults.
  • Rock & Roll Brewhouse.
  • Spotted Dog.
  • Wellington.
  • Woodman.

Pub of the Year 2018/2019
Gold Award - The Lamp Tavern.
Silver Award - Wellington.
Bronze Award - Jewellers Arms.

Pub of the Year Finalists 2018/2019

  • Bartons Arms.
  • Burning Soul Brewery.
  • Old Moseley Arms.
  • Post Office Vaults.
  • Rock & Roll Brewhouse.
  • Spotted Dog.
  • Woodman.

Pub of the Year 2017/2018
Gold Award - Inn on the Green.
Silver Award - Lamp Tavern.
Bronze Award - Gunmakers Arms.

Pub of the Year Finalists 2017/2018

  • 1000 Trades.
  • Bartons Arms.
  • Old Moseley Arms.
  • Post Office Vaults.
  • Rock & Roll Brewhouse.
  • Spotted Dog.
  • Wellington.
  • Woodman.

Pub of the Year 2016/2017
Gold Award - The Inn on the Green.
Silver Award - The Black Eagle.
Bronze Award - The Old Moseley Arms.

Pub of the Year Finalists 2016/2017

  • The Bartons Arms.
  • The Craven Arms.
  • The Lamp Tavern.
  • The Post Office Vaults.
  • The Spotted Dog.
  • The Wellington.
  • The Woodman.

Pub of the Year 2015/2016
Gold Award - The Inn on the Green.
Silver Award - The Old Moseley Arms.
Bronze Award - The Wellington.

Pub of the Year Finalists 2015/2016

  • The Bartons Arms.
  • The Black Eagle.
  • The Lamp Tavern.
  • The Post Office Vaults.
  • The Spotted Dog.
  • The White Horse.
  • The Woodman.

Rising Star Award 2015/2016

  • The Gunmakers Arms.

Pub of the Year 2014/2015
Gold Award - The Old Moseley Arms.
Silver Award - The Craven Arms.
Bronze Award - The Inn on the Green.

Pub of the Year Finalists 2014/2015

  • The Spotted Dog.
  • The Wellington.

Rising Star Award 2014/2015

  • Cherry Reds.

Pub of the Year 2013/2014
Gold Award - The Old Moseley Arms.
Silver Award - The Lamp Tavern.
Bronze Award - The Craven Arms.

Pub of the Year Finalists 2013/2014

  • The Anchor Inn.
  • The Inn on the Green.

Rising Star Award 2013/2014

  • The Inn on the Green & The Woodman.

Pub of the Year 2012/2013
Gold Award - The Wellington.
Silver Award - The Black Eagle.
Bronze Award - Post Office Vaults.

Rising Star Award 2012/2013

  • Post Office Vaults.