The biggest award the branch makes is the 'Pub of the Year'

The Branch Pub of the Year 2026 is the MILBOURNE ARMS, Carlisle. Congratulations to Trevor and his team for this well deserved award The winner of this goes forward as Solway entry as Cumbria Pub of the Year in 2026.

When the pub was built in 1853 it served a thriving textile industry in the area. Like other pubs in the city, the pub was acquired by the State Management Scheme (SMS)in 1916. In 1973 it was bought by Greenall Whitley, a regional brewer. In 2020, the Milbourne was taken over by Drouth Ltd, and extensively refurbished.

The Milbourne has two changing cask beers on sale. It supports local breweries, as well as independent micro-breweries from further afield. Many different beer styles have been available including milds, porters, stouts, bitters, pale ales and IPA's.

THE OLD CROWN, HESKET NEWMARKET 2026 SPRING PUB OF THE SEASON

This 18th century pub is an absolute gem of a pub. It is warm and cosy with a friendly welcome. Above all, the Old Crown is a community pub in every sense of the phrase. In fact, we believe there can be very few pub in the country that could surpass the Old Crown as a community pub. For real ale enthusiasts, the Old Crown became a place to visit back in 1988 when the then owners Jim and Liz Fearnley started selling beer brewed by Jim in a barn at the back of the pub. The Old Crown is still very much 'the brewery tap' and showcases up to six Hesket Newmarket ales at any one time. All the beers have been brewed in the barn behind the pub. It remains a thriving business that is literally the heart of the community.

DROVERS REST MONKHILL 2025-26 WINTER PUB OF THE SEASON

Over four hundred years old, the Drovers is very much a traditional country pub. Although it has been opened up a bit, it still has the feel of three or four distinct rooms. The Drovers is a very convivial pub. Conversations that start over the bar often run right round the room including everyone and anyone that wants to chip in! Known for its extensive beer menu on hand pull, craft keg and bottles and cans in the fridge as well as a choice of non-standard nonalcoholic beers, the Drovers has an everchanging choice. The food likewise is ever changing with quirky variations on the standard hotdog using local produce as well as your usual pub grub favourites cooked to a high standard.

AGRICULTURAL HOTEL, PENRITH 2025 AUTUMN PUB OF THE SEASON

After a protracted sales period, with the pub closed, and no indication it would continue as a pub, the newly formed Valiant Pubs group ended up with the deeds and after a sympathetic refurb, installed the young and enthusiastic management team of Megan McCall and Thomas McLaughlin, re-opening in November 2024. Despite having no prior credentials with Real Ale, they took onboard advice from locals and immediately started serving local brewed real ales through the four handpumps. Right from day one the service and quality has been excellent, with even the options for traditional pint jugs for some of us older folks. Internally the pub has seen little change, but outside there is now plenty of seating for customers to enjoy the glorious sunshine we’ve been treated to this year. The hard work of the management team has paid off with the inclusion of the pub in the Daily Telegraph’s list of the 500 Best Pubs in England, and the much more prestigious, CAMRA Solway Branch Autumn Pub of the Year Award 2025. Not bad for the first year. The pub is also recognised by CAMRA’s Heritage Pub Group for the excellent Victorian Shuttered and Panelled Servery (Bar Counter to you and me!), which hails from the days when the serving elements of the hotel had to be secured from the paying guests outside of licensing hours. What more can we say, other than all local CAMRA members are delighted to have this iconic Penrith Pub back as part of the local Real Ale scene

FETHERSTON ARMS KIRKOSWALD 2025 SUMMER PUB OF THE SEASON

This fine pub stands opposite the old, cobbled square at the centre of Kirkoswald village. The building dates from 1836, when it was built for the Fetherston-Haugh family who still own the building today. As a listed building, renovation has been done carefully. The ground floor has been opened upand sensitively modernised in order retain the original atmosphere. It's about fifteen years since brothers, Alan and Michael Collinson, took over the "Fethers". The pub is a regular in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and has been branch Pub of the Year. On the bar, Grasmere Gold and Lancaster Blonde are the permanent cask beers together with two, soon to be three, changing guest cask beers from breweries such as Tirril, Hawkeshead and Kirkby Lonsdale. The "Fethers" serves excellent meals and is a very pleasant place to enjoy a few drinks.

The Branch Pub of the Year 2025 was The Cumberland Inn, Alston. The winner of this goes forward as Solway entry as Cumbria Pub of the Year and in 2025 The Cumberland scooped the top award.

The Solway Branch Pub of the Year 2023 and 2024.was the Drovers Rest Monkhill. The pub followed that success by being voted Cumbria CAMRA Pub of the year 2023 and 2024
The Solway Branch Pub of the Year 2020, 2021 and 2022 is - The Agricultural, Penrith

Good Beer Guide Gold Award for 20 continuous entries - Cumberland Inn Alston
Solway Branch City Pub of the Year 2023,2024 and 2025 - Milbourne Arms
City Pub of the Year 2023 -Milbourne Arms
City Pub of the Year 2022 -The Kings Head

Eden Area Pub of the Year 2023 -The Agricultural Hotel, Penrith

The Pub of the Year 2019 was the Drovers Rest, Monkhill repeating its success in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018

In 2014 the Pub of the Year was the Fetherston Arms, Kirkoswald

In 2013 the Pub of the Year was the Agricultural, Penrith

In 2012 the Pub of the Year winner was the Kings Head, Carlisle .
In 2010 & 2011 the Pub of the Year winner was the Cumberland Inn, Alston.
Cider Pub of the Year 2020 - The Cumberland Inn, Alston
Cider Pub of the Year 2019 - The Fell Bar, Penrith

Each quarter we award a Branch 'Pub of the Season

Pub of the Season Spring 2025 West Walls Brewing, Carlisle
Pub of the Season Winter 2024-25 Kings Arms, Bowness-on-Solway
Pub of the Season Autumn 2024 Stone Inn, Hayton
Pub of the Season Summer 2024 The Wheatsheaf, Wetheral
Pub of the Season Spring 2024 Fox and Hounds, Armathwaite
Pub of the Season Winter 2023-24Blacksmiths, Talkin
Pub of the Season Autumn 2023 Fell Bar, Penrith
Pub of the Season Summer 2023 Cumberland Inn, Alston
Pub of the Season Spring 2023
Pub of the Season Winter 2022-23 Sportsman Inn, Carlisle
Pub of the Season Autumn 2022 Woodrow Wilson, Carlisle
Pub of the Season Summer 2022 -the Drovers Rest at Monkhill
Pub of the Season Spring 2022 Milbourne Arms, Carlisle
Pub of the Season Winter 2021 Agricultural Hotel Penrith
Pub of the Season Spring 2020 The Cumberland Alston
Pub of the Season Winter 2020 Royal Oak, Moorhouse
Pub of the Season Autumn 2019 -Agricultural Hotel Castlegate, Penrith
Pub of the Season Winter 2019 - 301 Miles from London
Pub of the Season Summer 2019 -The Wellington, Great Orton
Pub of the Season Spring 2019 -Blacksmiths Arms, Talkin
Pub of the Season Autumn 2018 - Fell Bar
Pub of the Season Winter 2018 -Dockray Hall Penrith
Pub of the Season Summer 2018 -Fat Gadgie Carlisle.
Pub of the Season Spring 2018 -Wheatsheaf Wetheral
Pub of the Season Autumn 2017 -Beehive, Carlisle
Pub of the Season Summer 2017 -Stone Inn, Hayton
Pub of the Season Spring 2017 -Fetherston Arms Kirkoswald
Pub of the Season Winter 2017 The Spinners, Cummersdale
Pub of the Season Autumn 2016 -Royal, Penrith
Pub of the Season Summer 2016 -The Pheasant, Cumwhitton
Pub of the Season Spring 2016 -The Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket
Pub of the Season Winter 2016 -The Plough Inn, Wreay
Pub of the Season Autumn 2015 -The Moo Bar, Carlisle Now Closed
Pub of the Season Summer 2015 -The Blacksmiths Arms, Talkin
Pub of the Season Spring 2015 -The Highland Drove, Great Salkeld
Pub of the Season - Winter 2015 - The Cumberland Inn, Alston
Pub of the Season - Autumn 2014 - The Drovers Rest, Monkhill
Pub of the Season - Summer 2014 - The Wheatsheaf Inn, Wetheral
Pub of the Season - Spring 2014 - The Shepherds Inn, Langwathby
Pub of the Season - Winter 2013 - The Oak, Curthwaite.
Pub of the Season - Autumn 2013 - The Crown & Thistle, Stanwix, Carlisle
Pub of the Season - Summer 2013 - The , Carlisle.
Pub of the Season - Spring 2013 - The Magpie Inn, Carlisle. Sadly this pub has now closed.
Pub of the Season - Winter 2012 - The William Rufus (Lloyds No 1), Carlisle.
Pub of the Season - Autumn 2012 - The Plough Inn, Wreay.
Pub of the Season - Summer 2012 - Highland Laddie, Glasson
Pub of the Season - Spring 2012
Pub of the Season - Winter 2011. Woodrow Wilson, Carlisle.
Pub of the Season - Autumn 2011. Duke of Cumberland, Castle Carrock.
Pub of the Season - Summer 2011. Agricultural Hotel, Penrith.