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 is making just two awards for excellence: our top award Branch Pub of the Year and Country Pub of the Year for a close runner-up. You can find more details about them via our website Pub Guide link or by visiting CAMRA’s WhatPub.com.

Wellington Arms, Wellington Street, Bedford
Branch Pub of the Year 2023 and previous winner in 2001-05, 2008 and 2010
Special award in 2017 for consistently promoting quality real ale.

The Wellington Arms has played a key role in the recent story of real ale in Bedford. 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. And it has been part of CAMRA’s local story too, serving as an informal branch HQ where we meet most often before a minibus pub tour or a brewery visit.

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 former manager Liz Sutton a new tenancy in 2022. We are delighted at the outcome for what was already one of our best local pubs, but is now a free house and fully deserves our Branch Pub of the Year 2023 award.

If you are a local real ale drinker, you probably 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 snacks may be available during the week. There is occasional live music and we hope landlady Liz may bring back occasional beer festivals in future.

Congratulations to Liz Sutton, Burlison Inns and the Wellington Arms for winning our latest Pub of the Year title. A framed certificate was presented to the pub on 23 March. For more information, visit the Facebook page @Wellybedford.

Stone Jug, Back Street, Clophill
Country Pub of the Year 2023 and Branch Pub of the Year 2014.

Originally three 16th-century cottages, the Stone Jug has an L-shaped bar serving two drinking areas. Its unusual name may come from the local quarry stone from which it is mostly constructed. Although a much older building, it became a public house in the early 1900's and is now a popular free house and local community centre. It has been run by the Stevens family since 1981.

The “Back Street” address is spot on for its quiet rural location. Benches along the front provide a perfect seat for those who like to watch the world pass by and there is also a rear decking area that catches the sun on summer afternoons and early evenings. Parking can be difficult at busy times, but it is an ideal refreshment stop for the nearby Greensand Ridge Walk.

Regular real ales Shepherd Neame Spitfire and at least one from 3 Brewers of St Albans are joined on the handpumps by up to three guest beers, often from regional microbreweries. Excellent home-made lunches are available from Tuesday to Saturday. The pub is highly valued for its relaxed atmosphere and the regular customers always help visitors feel at home. It’s a proper, traditional village pub!

Congratulations to licensees Vikki and Joyce Stevens, together with Vikki's brother Mark and the ever helpful bar staff for winning our award. We look forward to it remaining one of our best local pubs for many years to come. A framed certificate was presented to the pub on 22 March. For further details call 01525 860526, visit the Stone Jug website or its Facebook page @thestonejugclophill

Cider Pub of the Year and Club of the Year
The branch decided not to make these awards for the second successive year, with few local pubs currently offering real cider and our regular contacts with local clubs still recovering from the disruption of 2020-21. There was no strong case for any other branch awards this year.

Regional and national awards
The Wellington Arms will be our branch candidate for the Bedfordshire county Pub of the Year title, to be chosen in April. The county winner will be a candidate for East Anglia regional Pub of the Year and the regional winner will compete for CAMRA’s national Pub of the Year title.

Last year’s North Beds Branch Pub of the Year, the Fox at Carlton, was narrowly beaten to the county title by the March Hare at Dunton, near Biggleswade. The King’s Head in Norwich won the East Anglia title and joined the Station House in Durham and the Horse & Jockey in Stapleford, Notts, in the final national shortlist. The national title was won by the Tamworth Tap brewpub, Tamworth, Staffs (see separate report below).