Many CAMRA Branches select a Cider Pub of the Year to go forward to the National Cider Pub of the Year Competition. After a review of selection methods used by other Branches, Wirral adopted what we believe to be best practice, avoiding any possibility of vote rigging or other bad practices and which we think is fair. It is not based on a popular vote which can be manipulated but rather a judging system based on set criteria.

• The pub (as defined by CAMRA) must be within the Wirral Branch area (Wirral Borough plus post code CH64 in Cheshire).
• The minimum criteria for inclusion is that the pub must sell at least one real cider.
• No pub may win the award on more than three consecutive occasions.
• Volunteer judges visit all of the pubs.
• The factors to be scored are Quality and Range of Cider/Perry, Service and Welcome, Comfort and Atmosphere
• The pubs scoring the highest marks will be revisited so that by the end of the process, all the judging groups will have visited all the top scoring pubs.
• The winner will be announced at the Wirral Branch March Meeting.

Past Winners –

2024 – Red Fox (Thornton Hough)

2023 – Red Fox (Thornton Hough) – progressed to be Merseyside and Cheshire Regional Cider Pub of the Year

2022 – Beer Lab (Heswall) – progressed to be Runner-up Merseyside and Cheshire Regional Cider Pub of the Year

2021 – Beer Lab (Heswall)

2020 – Beer Lab (Heswall)

2019 – No Award

2018 – Red Fox (Thornton Hough)

2017 – Red Fox (Thornton Hough)