Located on the corner of St.Mary’s Street in Gloucester, the city’s Pelican Inn has been named Regional Pub of the Year for 2025. This is the first year that the newly-formed West Central Region has made such an award.

CAMRA judges were not only impressed by the quality and variety of the many beers and ciders on offer at the Pelican, but they also commended the strong and welcoming community ethos that characterises the 17th Century pub. Owned by Herefordshire-based Wye Valley Brewery, the Pelican is run by landlord, Mike Hall, with help from his able and enthusiastic team of staff. Equally popular with locals, visitors and rugby followers (Kingsholm Rugby Ground is just a short walk away), the Pelican famously boasts to only selling cask ales and ciders, along with an eclectic range of craft beers in cans. It also runs numerous events, including a number of well-attended and successful beer festivals.

Unusually, the Pelican doesn’t sell the keg lagers pushed so hard by the multi-national brewers in favour of the more local and interesting – and this is something that clearly works judging by the crowds that enjoy frequenting what has become nothing short of an institution for the city of Gloucester.

Landlord, Mike Hall had this to say about winning the prestigious award: “I’m overjoyed the Pelican has been recognised with this award. I’m blessed with passionate staff and loyal customers; good local suppliers and the support from Wye Valley Brewery. It’s reassuring that a small local pub, with its traditional values, can still thrive in an ever-changing pub landscape.”

The Pelican now goes forward to be judged in the prestigious CAMRA National Pub of the Year competition, which will be decided later in the year. Running-up in the regional competition was the Red Lion at Horley in Oxfordshire.

Text acknowledgement: Mark Haslam (15/08/2025)

This year’s Spring Pub of the Season has been awarded to the Spire & Spoke in Watlington.

Landlord John Riddell (pictured with branch members Sue and David Cooper and Mike Marr) was thrilled to be presented with the award and continued to say “Thank you for awarding the Spire & Spoke the seasonal award, such and honour! As you know I am proud to show case the wonderful locally brewed ales in South Oxford and surrounding counties. There is a wealth of brewing talent in our area resulting on some exquisite and sometimes thought provoking brews.”

”I have found in the last five years that stocking local breweries has been both financially and culturally beneficial to both parties.”

Many congratulations to John and his team, and we hope for continued success at the pub where the pizza and cakes are just as delicious as the well-kept ales!

Every May, CAMRA branches across the UK celebrate Mild Month, an initiative to celebrate and highlight the mild beer style, which was recently under threat of extinction due to a drop in popularity.

To help revive the drink, CAMRA branches encourage local pubs to have at least one mild on the bar during the month of May, and some organise trips to pubs and breweries that embrace and support the beer style.

Mild is a beer style which developed in the late 18th and 19th centuries as drinkers started to demand a slightly sweeter and less aggressively hopped beer than porter. Early milds were much stronger than modern versions, which tend to be 3% - 3.5% ABV, though a number of brewers are bringing strength back into style.

Mild is usually dark brown in colour, due to the use of well-roasted malts or roasted barley. Look for a rich malty aroma and flavour, with hints of dark fruit, chocolate, coffee and caramel, with a gentle underpinning of hop bitterness.

Examples from local breweries to us include:

• LoveBeer Mild Rover
• Hook Norton Hooky Mild
• Renegade Maggs’ Mild
• XT Pi
• Indigenous Baldrick
• Windsor & Eton Malt Head Mild