A pub from North Yorkshire has been named the cream of the crop in the race to be CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year 2026. A Yorkshire pub has reached the final four, showcasing the very best of UK pubs, and is a new face in this year’s final round.
The Countryman’s Inn, Hunton, is a first-time regional and super-regional winner, alongside Cockpit, Chislehurst. The Countryman’s Inn is aiming to take home the top prize ten years after a pub less than ten miles away, the George and Dragon in Hudswell, achieved the same feat.
The Countryman’s Inn is described as a welcoming, community-owned free house serving Yorkshire beers, including at least one from Pennine Brewery. Visitors can enjoy a roaring stove in winter, a great beer garden in summer, bi-weekly coffee mornings and charity quizzes.
Sharing the news, the pub wrote: “Well Folks, We’ve won the Super Region for CAMRA Pub of the Year! NOW TO THE FINAL 4….. Thank you to all the team who work so hard! A big thank you to all the breweries who support us with their fantastic ale! And finally, a big thank you to all our shareholders, regulars & visitors who make this pub what it is today! We have come such a long way in a short space of time. YOUR PUB – OUR COMMUNITY”
Andrea Briers, CAMRA Pub of the Year Coordinator, said: “I’m so proud of our final four pubs for 2026. Despite the well-documented challenges facing our pubs and brewers, these licensees have not just survived, but thrived. All four are amazing places that are definitely worth a visit, whether you want a top-quality pint, or just a brilliant community-orientated vibe.”
Dan Male, licensee of the Countryman’s Inn, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have made it to the last four in this year’s Pub of the Year. In our fourth year of community ownership the pub continues to grow, and we are so proud to be recognised by CAMRA in the work we are doing. Congratulations to all in the last four!”
The Countryman’s Inn will now compete against the Turks Head in St Helens, Cockpit in Chislehurst and the Tamworth Tap in Tamworth for the overall title.
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Feature Image Credit: The Countryman’s Inn
