The Turks Head retains crown as St Helens CAMRA Pub of Year

Meanwhile, Beer EnGin is Cider Pub of the Year and Haydock Reading Room retains Club of the Year.

It means The Turks Head has been named Pub of the Year by St Helens and Districts Campaign for Real Ale, for the second year in a row.

The pub beat off very stiff competition from across the borough in another closely fought contest, to be voted the best pub for real ale by local CAMRA members.

The Turks Head (Image: CAMRA)

Landlord Daryl Arrowsmith said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve won again. The competition was really open this year with the resurgence of some great pubs in the area, we were really given a run for our money.

“I’m pleased for the staff as they work really hard to make the pub what it is, and they know their stuff when it comes to real ale.

“It’s also thanks to those CAMRA members who took the time to visit all the pubs and submit their scores to make it such a closely fought contest, but mostly to our regular customers who are what keep us going.”

Beer EnGin (Image: Beer EnGin)

The Turks Head was one of eight establishments across the borough to be shortlisted for Pub of the Year - narrowly beating 2022 winner the Beer EnGin in Whiston, which was awarded second place, and the newly refurbished Lamb Inn which came in third.

The other pubs in the shortlist, which will receive a Pub of Excellence award, were the former National CAMRA Pub of the Year, The Cricketers Arms, Commercial Hotel (Rainhill), The News Room, The Royal Alfred and The Skew Bridge Alehouse (Rainhill).

Ian Pye, pubs officer for St Helens and District CAMRA, said: "Huge congratulations to the Turks Head who members have scored the best pub in our area.

"A special mention also goes to the Beer EnGin for second place and The Lamb for third place.

“Both pubs were very close to the Turks Head on scores and all pubs in the competition scored highly.

“People often assume it’s a small group of people that get to make the decision in these competitions, but every one of our 700 members has the opportunity to participate at each stage of the branch awards and vote for the Pub of the Year.

“I'm proud of all the pubs that were in the competition.

“We are exceptionally lucky to have great pubs in our branch that continue to raise the bar on the quality of real ale and general pub experience.

“You can be guaranteed a great pint in any of the 8 shortlisted pubs who all strive to make sure their customers feel welcome and happy when they visit."

The Turks Head is the only pub in St Helens and surrounding areas to have an entry in every Good Beer Guide since the formation of St Helens and Districts CAMRA in 2008.

In the other competitions which run alongside the main Pub of the Year contest, the Beer EnGin has been crowned Cider Pub of the Year.

They narrowly beat the Turks Head, Cricketers Arms and the Skew Bridge Alehouse who were all shortlisted as pubs that regularly sell real cider this is cider that is made from pure unconcentrated freshly pressed fruit juice with no other sugars or artificial additives, meaning good quality cider is 90% fruit juice.

Haydock Reading Room retained their crown as Club of the Year. They were awarded the accolade for the second year in a row.

They went up against former winners Prescot Reform Club, Rainford Labour Club, Rainhill Recreation Club and West Park Rugby Club who will all receive a Committed to Cask award for making the shortlist.

The Turks Head, Beer EnGin and Haydock Reading Room will all go forward to the Merseyside Pub of the Year, Cider Pub of the Year and Club of the Year competitions respectively.