CAMRA awards are given only to the best pubs and clubs, and to the hard-working people who make them a success. This year North Beds Branch has made just three awards for excellence: our top award, Branch Pub of the Year, a Town Pub of the Year and a Community Pub of the Year, which is a fairly new award given for an outstanding contribution to the local community. Framed certificates have been presented to the award winners. You can find more details about them via our website Pub Guide link or by visiting the pub websites or WhatPub.com.

The Fox, High Street, Carlton. Branch Pub of the Year 2022; Country Pub of the Year 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021.
Congratulations to owner-licensee Alison Thompson for a remarkable achievement by winning our top Branch Pub of the Year award after four previous local awards as Country Pub of the Year. A charming, thatched community pub on the old High Street off the Turvey road south-west of the modern village centre, the Fox has been a fine pub offering real ales for many years. However, Alison has made it even more special with a warm welcome for both regulars and casual visitors. An old, under-used restaurant was opened through into the bar, providing a larger and more flexible space for drinkers, diners and games players. The attractive garden is always popular with families in good weather.
The Fox serves proper pub food at very reasonable prices, and welcomes walking groups for lunch with open arms. Competing for customers with several good rural pubs nearby, Alison and her team at the Fox have maintained their initial success and fully deserve our fifth branch award in six years. The regular real ales are Eagle IPA and Fuller’s London Pride, with two frequently changed guest beers, often from local independent microbreweries. Cellar management is excellent, guaranteeing you a well-kept pint. Good value, home-cooked lunches are served from Tuesday to Sunday and evening meals from Wednesday to Saturday. There is a regular quiz on Thursday, 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 regular live music at both festivals. For more information, call 01234 720235 or visit the Fox website or Fox Facebook page.

The Devonshire Arms, Dudley Street, Bedford.Town Pub of the Year 2019 and 2022; Branch Pub of the Year 2020 and 2021; Cider Pub of the Year 2018.
Congratulations also to licensees Ronnie and Rebecca Toms at the Devonshire Arms for winning one of our branch awards for five successive years, this time the Town Pub of the Year award for a worthy runner-up. A traditional community pub at the heart of the Russell Park residential area and a Wells house for its whole 120 years, the “Devvy” is well supported by local people. There is a warm, friendly atmosphere, an open fire in winter and even candlelight. The front bar has bare floorboards and an open fire, while there is a separate snug at the rear. The garden is popular for sitting out in good weather and includes both a gazebo for smokers and a no-smoking paved area. Traditional pub games like crib and dominoes are played regularly.
The Devvy offers two regular real ales from Bedford’s Eagle Brewery and four guest ales either from the new Brewpoint or sourced more widely. Real ciders are also available from chilled boxes in the cellar and a range of wines is sold by the glass or bottle. Beer and cider festivals are usually held twice a year. Although full meals are not served regularly, tasty pies are usually on sale at the bar, with snacks also available during festivals. For more information, call 01234 301170 or visit the Devvy pub website or Devvy Facebook page.

The Gordon Arms, Castle Road, Bedford. Community Pub of the Year 2022, Most Improved Pub 2021.
Congratulations to owner Wells & Co and the pub team for winning our new Community Pub award only a year after earning our Most Improved Pub award after the refurbished pub re-opened in August 2021. Our Community Pub award recognises the pub’s exceptional community focus in the heart of the Castle Road urban village. This year in particular, the pub has opened its Ent Shed entertainment venue as a donation centre for raising funds for Ukrainian refugees. Although the Ent Shed is smaller than it used to be, it is now fully integrated with the pub, creating an excellent entertainment space and function room.
Four, well-kept Eagle or Brewpoint ales are available on handpump, with excellent pub lunches and evening meals also available. For more information call 01234 348668, or visit the Gordon Arms website or Gordon Arms Facebook page.

Cider Pub of the Year and Club of the Year. The branch decided not to make these awards in 2022, with few pubs offering real cider and our regular contacts with local clubs still recovering from the disruption of 2020-21.

Regional and national awards. CAMRA’s regional and national competitions for Pub of the Year, Cider Pub of the Year and Club of the Year were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but regional and national awards will be made this year. The Fox at Carlton, our local candidate for Bedfordshire Pub of the Year, was narrowly beaten to the title by the March Hare at Dunton, near Biggleswade. The March Hare then became our county candidate for the East Anglia Pub of the Year title, which was eventually won by the King's Head, Norwich. A national CAMRA Pub of the Year winner will be announced early in 2023.