THE owner of The George in Alton, Susannah Stredder, agrees her ‘wall of fame’ is getting a bit crowded now as she put up her Best Pub of the Year certificate presented by The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) beside the ones she got as Best Pub of the Year 2017, and in 2014. She has also been runner up in the two years in between.

Susannah, who took over full management of the pub three months ago said she got the award because of fresh cooked food, good beer - “I look after my beer and although I don’t drink it I taste it all to make are it is good.” - and well-trained staff who know how to serve it and answer any questions customers might have on any particular brew.

“Also, very popular are our Fresh Fish and Fizz Friday nights and people book up for them well in advance. Also, in fine summer weather customers can dine and drink in our large garden.”

The Golden Pheasant at Lower Farringdon has been named Best Pub of the Year runner up for the second time.

Landlord David Scholes said they were disappointed not to have come first but they did win Best Pub in 2016.

“And as it is all about ale we have seven different varieties on offer where as some pubs only have three.”

“Also, for some years we have had a certificate for Excellence in Ales, but we would like to thank CAMRA for considering us and we will be keeping our fingers crossed for next year.”

Another Farringdon pub, The Rose and Crown, has been named Most Improved Pub of the Year and as it only re-opened in January it has made remarkable progress.

Last year, like so many others in the country, the pub closed down and there was a plan for the local community to buy and run it until a local businessman stepped in and saved the day.

Under new ownership the pub began by serving only drinks in December before opening in January and, as assistant manager Megan Brown told the Herald: “We set ourselves goals and we have done excellently.

“We have refurbished the interior giving the place a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and have become known, thanks to our chef, Zoltan, for good food such as our traditional English dishes or al a carte menu.

“We also have a good selection of beer and best of all a lot of local people are regulars at the pub.”

Commenting on the standard of this year’s awards, Paul Hawley, chairman CAMRA East Hampshire, said: “The standard of our local real ale pubs is, with few exceptions, high and we do have difficulty narrowing down selections for the CAMRA Good Beer Guide book (the new edition will be released in early September because of a high standard.

“We award the certificates in recognition of the efforts made by publicans to maintain a quality product, despite little help from Government.”

CAMRA is always searching for pubs worthy of receiving a certificate and are pleased to receive nominations for good local pubs.