CAMRA awards are given only to the best pubs and clubs, and to the hard-working people who make them a success. Following five awards last year, CAMRA North Beds is making only two awards for excellence in 2025: our top award of Branch Pub of the Year to the Fox at Carlton and a Town Pub of the Year to the Wellington Arms, Bedford. The branch will not make a Cider Pub of the Year or a Club of the Year award and there are no other awards planned for 2025.

Branch chairman Fytton Rowland commented: "I am delighted that we can again honour two of our best pubs. Although they are very different, they both serve and are part of their local community. Together they demonstrate how varied good pubs and clubs can be and I look forward to presenting their awards."

Fox, High Street, Carlton
Branch Pub of the Year
Previously Branch Pub of the Year 2022; Community Pub of the Year 2024; Country Pub of the Year 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021

Congratulations to owner-licensee Alison Thompson for winning our top branch award for the second time. It’s a brilliant village pub and is regularly among the final choice for our annual awards.

A charming, thatched pub on the old High Street off the Turvey road, south-west of the modern village centre, the Fox has offered well-kept real ales for many years. However, Alison makes it even more special with a warm welcome for both regulars and casual visitors. A former, under-used restaurant has been opened through into the bar, providing a larger and more flexible space for drinkers, diners and games players. The attractive garden is popular with families in good weather. The Fox serves good pub food at very reasonable prices, and welcomes walking groups for lunch, but always book ahead if there are several of you needing a table.

The regular real ales are Potbelly Best from Kettering and Timothy Taylor Landlord from Keighley, West Yorkshire, joined on the handpumps by two changing beers, usually from regional independent breweries such as Buntingford, Tring, Vale or XT. Good value, home-cooked lunches are served from Tuesday to Sunday and evening meals from Tuesday to Saturday. There is a regular Thursday evening quiz, occasional themed food evenings, a gin festival in June and beer festivals at the late spring and summer bank holiday weekends, for which an outhouse in the garden provides an additional bar and cask stillage. There is also live music at least once a month and many community events too.

The Fox will be North Beds candidate for the Bedfordshire county Pub of the Year title, to be decided in April. For more details about the pub call 01234 720235, visit the Fox website or follow the Fox Facebook page.

Wellington Arms, Wellington Street, Bedford
Town Pub of the Year
Previously Branch Pub of the Year 2023, 2001-05, 2008 and 2010; Community Pub of the Year 2024; Country Pub of the Year 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021. Special award in 2017 for consistently promoting quality real ale.

Congratulations to landlady Liz Sutton, owner Burlison Inns and regulars at the Wellington Arms for winning yet another CAMRA award. The Wellington Arms has played a key role in the recent story of real ale in Bedford and has long been a focal point for CAMRA North Beds members, serving as an informal branch HQ where we meet most often before a minibus pub tour or a brewery trip. Under the former B&T Brewery it won our first five Pub of the Year titles and then twice more before we gave it a unique special award in 2017 for consistently promoting real ale.

For many years it has offered a impressive range of real ales, always in excellent condition. Change became inevitable after the B&T brewery in Shefford had to close. B&T surrendered the lease and the pub reverted to owner Burlison Inns. Fortunately, the owners were keen to retain the pub’s position as a leading venue for real ale and wisely offered current manager Liz Sutton a new tenancy in 2022. One of our best local pubs became a free house.

If you are a local real ale drinker, you almost certainly know the “Welly” already. A row of 8 handpumps serves a range of real ales, mostly from microbreweries and usually including a mild and a stout. Another pair of handpulls usually serve draught cider. The well-stocked fridge offers a range of Belgian and other imported bottled beers. The walls are decorated with a range of pump-clips and other breweriana, while the small rear courtyard provides a pleasant area outside. The Welly is not a pub for food, although light lunchtime snacks may be available during the week. There is occasional live music. For more details, visit WhatPub or the Welly on Facebook.