A COUNTY’S real ale lovers have identified their favourite watering holes, with two put forward for judging for the regional Pub of the Year.

Several of last year’s category winners in the Durham branch of the Campaign for Real Ale’s (Camra’s) awards have retained their crowns, not least City Pub of the Year, The Victoria Inn, in Hallgarth Street, Durham.

Other repeat winners are The Three Horse Shoes, at Leamside, as Best Country Pub, Tanfield Lea Workingmen’s Club, the Club of the Year, and The Station House, in North Road, Durham, as Town Cider Pub of the Year.

The Black Bull at Frosterley was named Country Cider Pub of the Year, while the new category of Town Pub of the Year, went to the Grey Horse, in Sherburn Terrace, Consett.

Following much deliberation, the branch committee decided to enter The Three Horse Shoes and The Grey Horse as Durham’s Regional Pub of the Year contenders, to be judged by July and announced at the Durham Beer Festival, in late August.