On Friday 15th September a small group of Cornwall branch members gathered in the lower bar of the Driftwood Spars pub in Trevaunance Cove to award landlady Louise with CAMRA Kernow’s first ‘Pub of the Season – Summer’ award. This is a new initiative by the branch to actively involve members in the nomination and selection process; the four pubs voted ‘Pub of the Season’ will then form the entries for the ‘Pub of the Year’. To be awarded ‘Pub of the Season’ the pub must sell good quality real ale and/or cider. In addition, the following factors should be considered: the service and welcome received on visiting; the style, decor and cleanliness of the pub; its community focus and its alignment with CAMRA principles, such as displaying a price list. For the Summer pub of the Season it is also pertinent to consider outdoor spaces.

The Driftwood Spars pub has a lovely traditional style, offers a warm welcome to both locals and visitors; holds numerous community events; serves good quality real ales and ciders from its own brewery across the road and other local/national breweries. It also has vast areas of outdoor space including its cliff side garden and seating area opposite the pub. I think you can see why this pub was nominated for this award and then selected by a process of elimination by branch members. On receiving the certificate, Louise thanked the branch members who had recognised the pub’s attributes.

Currently nominations are open for ‘Pub of the Season – Autumn’. Cornwall CAMRA members please see recent mailouts from our Chairman, Vince Curtis, on how to nominate your favourite! If you want to to be involved but have not yet joined, then please do so and you will be welcome.