Potty about POTY? What sounds like a receptacle for the results of a good night out on the beer is actually CAMRA-speak for our annual Pub of the Year awards.
Every year, all CAMRA branches nominate and vote for the favourite pubs in their area. The winners then go on to the county, regional and finally, national awards. Even at a local level, the award is highly regarded.
Voting is now closed.
Voting closes at midnight on Saturday 3rd February.
The difficulty is that everyone has his or her own idea of the ideal pub, which is why it is so important to get as many people voting as possible. EVERY member of Colchester CAMRA can have their say, and the more votes we receive, the greater our confidence that we'll come up with the right result.
Winners will inevitably receive good publicity in the local media and trade press, resulting in increased trade. But they mustn't be complacent, as we start from scratch every year with no pre-conceptions.
Past Pubs of the Year
2026 Overall Pub of the Year: The Ale House, Colchester
City Pub of the Year 2025
- Winner: The Ale House
- Runner-Up: Victoria Inn
- Highly Commended: Odd One Out
Rural Pub of the Year 2025
- Winner: Ye Olde Albion, Rowhedge
- Runner-Up: The Courtyard Tap, Halstead
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Highly Commended: Hare and Hounds, Layer Breton
2025 Overall Pub of the Year: The Ale House, Colchester
City Pub of the Year 2025
- Winner: The Ale House
- Runner-Up: The Live and Let Live
- Highly Commended: Odd One Out, Colchester
Rural Pub of the Year 2025
- Winner: Ye Olde Albion, Rowhedge
- Runner-Up: The Courtyard Tap, Halstead
- Highly Commended: Lamarsh Lion, Lamarsh
2024 Overall Pub of the Year: The Ale House, Colchester
City Pub of the Year 2024
- Winner: The Ale House
- Runner-Up: The Live and Let Live
- Highly Commended: Victoria Inn, Colchester
Rural Pub of the Year 2024
- Winner: Ye Olde Albion, Rowhedge
- Runner-Up: The Courtyard Tap, Halstead
- Highly Commended: King's Head, Pebmarsh
2023 Overall Pub of the Year: Ye Olde Albion, Rowhedge
Town Pub of the Year 2023
- Winner: The Ale House
- Runner-Up: The Odd One Out
- Highly Commended: The Live and Let Live
Rural Pub of the Year 2023
- Winner: Ye Olde Albion, Rowhedge
- Runner-Up: The White Hart, Halstead
- Highly Commended: The Courtyard Tap, Halstead
2022-23 Overall Pub of the Year: Ye Olde Albion, Rowhedge
Town Pub of the Year 2022-23
- Winner: Live and Let Live, Stanway
- Runner-Up: The Ale House
- Highly Commended: The Odd One Out
Rural Pub of the Year 2022-23
- Winner: Ye Olde Albion, Rowhedge
- Runner-Up: The Lamarsh Lion, Lamarsh
- Highly Commended: Black Buoy, Wivenhoe
2020 and 2021 Overall Pub of the Year: The Black Buoy, Wivenhoe
Town Pub of the Year 2020 and 2021:
- Winner: The Ale House
- Runner-Up: Live and Let Live, Stanway
- Highly Commended: The Odd One Out
Rural Pub of the Year 2020 and 2021:
- Winner: Black Buoy, Wivenhoe
- Runner-Up: Ye Olde Albion, Rowhedge
- Highly Commended: The Horse and Groom, Wivenhoe
- Full List of Past Winners
How does Colchester CAMRA choose its Pub of the Year?
The branch asks all of its members to vote for their pub of the year. Each member can nominate up to 3 branch pubs in order of preference. Votes can be cast online, by post or at the members night of the Colchester Winter beer festival.
There isn't just one prize, we award 3 titles in town and rural categories: Pub of the Year, Runner Up and Highly Commended. Either the Town Pub of the Year or Rural Pub of the Year is selected as overall winner to go onto the national stages of the competition.
Votes alone do not choose the winning pubs, we also take into account the beer scores of each nominated pub. This graphic explains how the awards are decided.