Congratulations once again to Neil and his team as we are pleased to announce that The Cheltenham Motor Club has once again made it to the finalist round of the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Club of the Year awards for the fourth year in a row. Let’s hope they can go one better this time and win the National title.
This friendly and welcoming club, formed in 1906, has once again made it to the final round because of its clearly demonstrable commitment to high quality real ale and welcoming atmosphere. It usually has five ales on tap and four ciders and is decorated with motoring memorabilia and an extensive collection of pump clips.
The CAMRA Club of the Year competition awards is run in conjunction with Club Mirror magazine with the simple aim of finding the best clubs serving real ale most committed to quality real ale – those which offer a fantastic atmosphere, welcoming surroundings and most importantly, top quality real ale served in great condition. Clubs are nominated by CAMRA branches across the country and judged by a panel of volunteer CAMRA members throughout the year.
John Holland, CAMRA’s National Club of the Year coordinator says: “It is a fantastic achievement to be considered one of the top four real ale clubs in the country. We are seeing more and more clubs making quality real ale a priority, which makes the competition stronger than ever.
“Clubs play a huge role in many local communities across the UK. They provide a safe, social environment in which to enjoy a pint with people who you know and trust. They can help people build and strengthen social networks and can be a lifeline in times of need. To be a part of a club is to be part of a family.”
The other three finalists include the Albatross Club (RAFA) in Bexhill, the Dartford Working Men’s Club and Leyton Orient FC Supporters Club. All finalists were presented with a commemorative plate at the Club Mirror Awards last night. They will then have to wait until spring next year to discover which will be named CAMRA’s Club of the Year.