COLCHESTER’S best boozers have been announced as the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) prepares to put forward the area’s top pubs for the 2022 County Pub of the Year competition.

Divided into four categories – Town Pub of the Year, Rural Pub of the Year, Cider Pub of the Year, and Overall Pub of the Year – the competition saw free houses in Stanway, Rowhedge and Colchester given rave reviews by CAMRA members, who were looking to find the best pubs in Colchester and north east Essex.

Stanway’s Live and Let Live took top spot in the Town Pub of the Year category, whilst the winner in the Cider Pub of the Year section was The Victoria Inn for the fifth year in a row.

Gazette: Peter Freeman of Live and Let Live, with his son Ben, and two grandkids Isla and EvanPeter Freeman of Live and Let Live, with his son Ben, and two grandkids Isla and Evan

Ye Olde Albion in Rowhedge scooped two awards – winning both Rural Pub of the Year and the much-coveted overall Pub of the Year award.

With the three best pubs in Colchester and north east Essex now confirmed, Ye Olde Albion – as winner of the overall Pub of the Year award – will now be put forward to the County Pub of the Year competition.

At the County competition, it will face stiff competition from bars in the seven other CAMRA branches across Essex.

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Dan Young, who is the chairman of Colchester CAMRA, described how members of CAMRA judge different pubs.

Gazette: Colchester CAMRA chair Dan Young said pubs are vital hubs for communities across BritainColchester CAMRA chair Dan Young said pubs are vital hubs for communities across Britain

He said: “Members will judge the pubs out of ten [on different metrics] like atmosphere, ethos, beer quality and cleanliness – different aspects like that.”

Mr Young, 38, said CAMRA still has an important role to play in helping the hospitality industry.

Gazette: Acclaimed – Ye Olde Albion in Rowhedge won the top prize in both Overall Pub of the Year and Rural Pub of the YearAcclaimed – Ye Olde Albion in Rowhedge won the top prize in both Overall Pub of the Year and Rural Pub of the Year

“CAMRA supports breweries and gets different beers out to pubs. After all these restrictions, it has helped pubs stay there as a hub for communities and help publicans maintain their way of living.”

CAMRA first awarded the UK-wide Pub of the Year prize back in 1988, when a pub in Aberdeenshire took the title.

Since then, Essex has had three victors in 31 years, with previous winners including the Swan in Little Totham, and the Cap and Feathers in Tillingham.