How we select Pub of the Year and Good Beer Guide entries

 

Pub Of The Year (POTY)

 

Our pubs of the year are selected in March / April at our branch meeting. There is a town and a country pub of the year, however the pub considered to better meet the terms of the National Criteria will be be put forward to the Regional round. Nominations can be made prior to this meeting by any member of Camra in person, in writing or electronically. A list is publicised, usually at the February branch meeting and in the report of that meeting sent to all members signed up to receive emails from the branch. At the meeting the pub is selected on a simple majority vote of members present or who have voted in writing or by email. Only members of the branch are eligible to vote, each member has a single vote. The NBSS co-ordinator will advise the meeting of any listed pubs that do not have an average score of 3 or more and are therefore ineligible. In the event of a tied vote further voting will take place after due discussion and consideration of the National criteria.

 

Other awards determined by the branch follow the same basic procedure.

 

 

Good Beer Guide (GBG)

 

Throughout the year Camra members visit, assess and submit beer scores for as many pubs and clubsin the branch as they are able to. All pubs and clubs within the branch area are eligible for consideration. Prior to the February branch meeting the NBSS co-ordinator will prepare a long list of pubs based on average NBSS scores, but above a minimum of 3. Members are encouraged to visit as many listed pubs as possible before the March / April meeting and provide updates and further beer scores.

 

 

At the selection meeting the NBSS co-ordinator will provide an updated list of pubs and clubs with the highest NBSS scores, i.e. above 3, with a breakdown of the number of scorers, number of visits, average score, quarterly breakdown and confidence rating as produced by the NBSS analysis tool.

 

 

The minimum number of scores, scorers, different days visited and the required average score will vary from year to year as decided by the branch. These figures are currently:-

 

Scores 9

 

Scorers 6

 

Days visited 7

 

Required average score 3.15

 

 

Pubs and clubs where it is known that closure or a change of licensee is likely should not be considered. Pubs and clubs where the licensee or in some cases the person overseeing the cellar, have been in that role for less than six months should not be considered. National CAMRA policies regarding inclusivity, dispense etc will apply.

 

 

Pubs and clubs not meeting these minimum requirements will not be considered however country pubs may be considered on lower scores, or numbers of scorers or days visited if the branch so decides. Country pubs are those not located within Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Masham or Boroughbridge.

 

 

Pubs and clubs in the previous year’s GBG will automatically be considered for inclusion but they must meet the minimum requirements. Any pubs nominated by members in person, in writing or electronically, will also be considered but must meet the minimum requirements.

 

 

Each pub and club will be discussed and a first decision made as to if the venue is “yes”, “no” or “maybe”. Further voting rounds then take place until the branch allocation (currently 24 plus 2 reserves) is filled.

 

 

Brewery Tap rooms are not normally considered by us for a place in the Good Beer Guide for the following reasons:-

 

 

1. Breweries are already listed in the GBG both in the brewery section and on the main county map.

 

2. Breweries tend to have marketing budgets and are more able to promote themselves than a pub.

 

3. Our breweries with taprooms are mainly concentrated in two areas and their inclusion would over represent those places, this is particularly noticeable in Masham.

 

4. We could not include one brewery in a town without including the others as brewery tap rooms tend to serve excellent quality beer and may lead to accusations of favouritism or victimisation.

 

5. Brewery taps tend to have limited opening hours.