West Berkshire’s The Bell Inn, at Aldworth, wins 2024 CAMRA Pub of the Year Central Southern Region

They’ve done it again!

The Bell Inn, Aldworth has been voted Pub of the Year in the Central Southern Region of the annual CAMRA competition. CAMRA members and friends met at the pub on Saturday (September 7) to present the award.

The presentation was made by the chairman of the South Oxfordshire Branch Graham Hards, to landlord Hugh Macaulay.

Mr Macaulay said he was surprised and delighted when told about the award a few days earlier.

It comes after the pub won both the local, West Berkshire, and the Berkshire Pub of the Year awards.

The Bell has been in the Macaulay family since the 18th century.

It is described as a characterful pub that has a great atmosphere, excellent real ales and freshly-prepared filled rolls.

It has won numerous awards including CAMRA National Pub of the Year in 1990 and 2019.

As a result of winning the county round, The Bell went forward to the next round for the Regional Award along with The Cross Keys, Wallingford and the King’s Arms, Tring.

Members of the West Berkshire Branch said they were very pleased that The Bell won the regional round.

It now goes onto the ‘super-regional’ competition where it is up against five other pubs, with the possibility of getting to the final national round.