Branch members are invited in November or December to nominate pubs and clubs for branch awards for the following year. The awards may include:
• Branch Pub of the Year
• Country or Town Pub of the Year (for the best runner-up)
• Cider Pub of the Year
• Club of the Year
• Community Pub of the Year
• Young Members Pub of the Year
• Most Improved Pub

Other awards may be given in special cases for a particular year, such as the Lockdown Hero awards given for outstanding community service during the pandemic lockdown in 2020. Nominations are reviewed at the January branch meeting, after the Good Beer Guide (GBG) shortlist has been compiled. Candidates for Branch POTY must have consistently high beer quality and be considered safe entries for the next GBG.

The final decision on Branch POTY and other awards is taken at a special branch meeting in February also used to complete GBG selection. A vote of those present at the meeting is held if necessary. Other awards may be made to pubs or clubs that are not necessarily shortlisted for the next GBG.

When the branch started Pub of the Year in 2001, all branch members were invited to vote and the winner was the pub with a simple majority. Unfortunately, the response was poor and rural pubs were too often ignored. As our branch members are overwhelmingly urban and are often unfamiliar with pubs out of town, an open vote by text or email will rarely select anything other than one or two popular urban pubs. Branch members are now invited to nominate candidates beforehand, but to attend a special branch meeting to choose Branch Pub of the Year and other award winners after all nominated candidates have been discussed.

Award winners are announced on the branch website, through social media and through a press release. Award certificates are presented as soon as possible. Branch Pub of the Year (POTY), Cider POTY and Club of the Year winners are automatically submitted for CAMRA’s regional and national award competitions.