West Dorset CAMRA Beer Drinkers Pub of the Year announced

The West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has announced that the Sailor’s Return in Chaldon Herring, near Winfrith, has won its inaugural 'CAMRA Beer Drinkers Pub of the Year award'.

The new award reflects the pub in the west Dorset CAMRA region which consistently serves the best well kept cask conditioned real ale.

The award has different qualification qualities than its 'Pub of the Year' winner.

CAMRA members judge through-out the year using a national beer scoring system via the group's website.

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Members can enter a score of 0.5 -5 for the cask ale they are drinking, 0.5 being the worst undrinkable beer possible to the rarely awarded 5 which is the perfect pint.

Every month the scores are presented at CAMRA branch meetings by an unbiased coordinator, and throughout the year, the Sailor’s Return led the way, standing out as consistently good.

On hearing of winning the award, Sailor’s Return owner and landlord Tom Brachi said: "We're very surprised, but thrilled to be awarded this accolade.

"As much as it's CAMRA members' recognition of quality, hopefully it reflects well on some great people in the south west, producing a lovely product.

"Bar one well known Irish product, all our beers, lagers and ciders are made here on the south coast and in our eyes; we want to support these great people without the need to look at larger or international brands. Cheers to you guys."

West Dorset CAMRA Chairman Bruce Mead added: "This is a new award for this year which recognises the pub that serves real ale of the highest standard across the year. The Sailor's Return is a thoroughly deserving winner, and I can't wait to visit again soon, to sample one of their excellently kept beers.”

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 This award is run in conjunction with the launch and publication of the best selling CAMRA 'Good Beer Guide 2025' which is on its 51st edition.