The Grey Horse in the North East named in top 16 pubs in Britain - here’s why and the full list of winners

The competition is run annually to find the finest pub in the UK, with a pub in Berkshire claiming the top spot for 2020.

‘A traditional pub’

While the Grey Horse wasn’t crowned the overall winner, it beat hundreds of pubs across the country to be named among the UK’s 16 finest in CAMRA’s prestigious Pub of the Year competition.

Described as a “traditional pub”, which dates back to 1848, the Grey Horse features a lounge and L-shaped bar, with a characterful wood-beamed ceiling.

Consett Ale Works Brewery is located at the rear and beer festivals are held twice a year.

The pub is a popular stop off for cyclists thanks to the coast-to-coast cycle route sitting close by, and pub goers can enjoy a regular bill of live entertainment and quiz nights.

CAMRA’s National Director, Ben Wilkinson, said: “The top 16 contenders boast the perfect mix of the essential characteristics which make a great pub – great service, a welcoming atmosphere, fantastic decor, great value for money and most importantly, quality real ale.

“As our Summer of Pub initiative comes to a close, we’d like to encourage the nation’s beer drinkers to seek out these extraordinary pubs, which have been individually judged by our volunteers, ensuring a high degree of impartiality and integrity in their nomination.

How are the awards judged?

Pubs in the annual competition are selected by CAMRA volunteers and judged on a number of criteria.

These include the pub atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, community focus and the quality of the beer.

The top 16

The best pubs in the country have been highlighted in the national competition since 1998, with the awards intended to showcase quality venues across the UK that are worth seeking out and visiting.

A total of 16 pubs are selected in the shortlist, before being whittled down to four finalists.

These are the all 16 pubs that made the cut:

Central Southern – Bell, Aldworth, Berkshire East Anglia – Red Lion, Preston, Hertfordshire East Midlands – Smithfield, Derby, Derbyshire Greater Manchester – Flying Horse Hotel, Rochdale Kent – The Admirals Arm, Queenborough London – Hope, Carshalton Merseyside – Cricketers Arms, St. Helens North East – Grey Horse, Consett Scotland & Northern Ireland – Bridge Inn, Peebles South West – Tom Cobley, Spreyton, Devon Surrey / Sussex – Hornet, Chichester, Sussex Wales – Mansel Arms, Porthyrhyd, Carmarthenshire Wessex – The Firkin Shed, Bournemouth West Midlands – Prince of Wales, Shrewsbury West Pennines – Swan with Two Necks, Pendleton, Lancashire Yorkshire – George & Dragon, Hudswell