Just a few weeks after winning our branch Pub of the Year award, the Wellington Arms, Wellington Street, Bedford, is now Bedfordshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2023. Congratulations to licensee Liz Sutton and also to owner Burlison Inns and regular patrons of the pub for helping it win the county title, Winning these CAMRA awards means much more than just serving an excellent pint, important though that is. An award certificate was presented to the pub on 27 April.

The Wellington Arms then joined five other county winners to compete for the East Anglia regional Pub of the Year title, an award won by the Endeavour, Chelmsford. The Endeavour is now a candidate for one of four super-regional rounds and the final winner will become CAMRA’s national Pub of the Year, a superb achievement even for the very best pubs.

Congratulations too to the Engineers Arms in Henlow and owner Kevin Machin for winning Bedfordshire CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year 2023 once again. A certificate was presented to the pub on Friday 19 May. The Engineers became our county candidate for East Anglia regional Cider Pub of the Year, an award won by the White Lion, Oak Street, Norwich. The White Lion now competes for CAMRA's national Cider Pub of the Year title; the winner will be announced in October.