If there is one thing better than winning a Campaign for Real Ale Pub of the Year award, then it’s winning three at once!
The Jolly Judge, located just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, has just been named as the 2023 winner of the CAMRA Edinburgh and South East Scotland Branch’s Overall of Pub of the Year, as well as Edinburgh Pub of the Year and Cider Pub of the Year.
The framed certificates were handed over to licensee Adam Neil at the pub.
Runner-up in Edinburgh was the Stockbridge Tap and in third place (jointly) were the Roseburn and the Dreadnought.
Meanwhile, Stagg’s in Musselburgh has once again been named as CAMRA’s Lothians Pub of the Year.
Since 1999, it has been easier to name the year’s when Stagg’s has not won this award – 2003, 2006 and 2021 – such has been the consistency of its winning streak.
The framed certificate was handed over to licensee Nigel Finlay by CAMRA Edinburgh and South East Scotland pub officer Jon Addinall, who described Stagg’s as ‘a superb pub with a great range of well-kept Real Ales’, and noted its long winning history of the Lothians award, and the overall branch Pub Of The Year on several occasions, plus the coveted CAMRA UK National award in 1998.
Runner-up Lothians Pub of the Year was the Dean Tavern, in Newtongrange, while in third place was the Grey Horse, Balerno.
The Allanton Inn, in the village of the same name near Chirnside, Berwickshire, was named as the CAMRA Borders Pub of the Year 2023, and a framed certificate was handed over to owners Katrina and William Reynolds.
Runner-up was the Cross Inn, Paxton and in third place (jointly) were the Salmon Inn, Galashiels and 1905, Kelso.
The Edinburgh and South East Scotland Branch of CAMRA covers the areas of Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian, Scottish Borders and parts of West Lothian and has over 900 members.
