A County Durham micropub championing craft beer and praised for its “friendly” atmosphere has been announced as one of the UK’s best pubs.

The Station House – a wedge-shaped pub in the shadow of the railway viaduct in Durham – was opened in 2015 by Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) members and has enjoyed a continuous rise to success since.

Its latest accolade includes being named as the North East winner of the organisation’s prestigious Pub of the Year competition 2022.

CAMRA judges say the venue is “very friendly, with a back-to-basics approach and an emphasis on conversation” and offers a rotating range of beer and cider from a hatch in its cold room.

Read more: North Yorkshire and Tyneside pubs named amongst best in UK

The 16 regional finalists will now have a chance to compete for the National Pub of the Year crown, the highest accolade afforded to Britain’s pubs. The competition has been on hold over the last two years due to Covid-19 restrictions but was last won by the Bell Inn in Aldworth, Berkshire, in 2019.

Pubs in the competition are judged on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression, but most importantly – the quality of live beer, real cider and perry. The overall winner will be announced on November 30.

The regional announcement comes as CAMRA closes its Summer of Pub campaign with a final push to encourage pub-going over the long bank holiday weekend and beyond. It is urging all pub-goers to support their local after an incredibly difficult few years for the industry.

A recent YouGov survey has shown that people are cutting back on the regularity of their pub visits at a time when pubs are facing spiralling energy costs and a cost of goods crisis.

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Andrea Briers, national coordinator for the Pub of the Year competition, said: “This is an incredibly difficult time for many of our beloved pubs as they jump from one crisis to yet another one. The fact that we’re still seeing such shining examples of pub excellence despite these challenges is incredible, and a real testament to these winners.

“I’d encourage everyone to go out and support their local and even seek out these fantastic pubs in your area – they really are the cream of the crop and uphold the very highest standards of what makes a great pub.”

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