Somerset Pub Trail 2024
PUB TRAIL UPDATE
Many of you have contacted me regarding your Pub Trail prizes. Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten you! There are only 3 of us doing all the work involved in the Trail as well as leading busy lives.
The polo shorts are being printed and will be distributed to pubs acting as collection points at the end of next week. You will receive an email or phone message to tell you which pub your polo shorts can be collected from. These pubs are spread out over the branch area so you shouldn’t have far to travel to get your shirt and have a beer while you’re there.
Meal for 2 prize winners :-
Graham Hunt, Chard
S Crockett, Ilminster
Linda Nicholson, Kingsbury Episcopi
Graeme Potter, Taunton
Mick Cleveland, Watchet
These were drawn out by a staff member of Exmoor Ales, so no, it wasn’t a fix!! Winners will be contacted shortly.
Katie Redgate
They think it's all over. It is now!
The 2024 Somerset Pub Trail was a great success. It ran between Saturday 20th July and Saturday 14th September 2024. 122 Pub Trail Polo Shirts have been won by people who visited 25 different pubs out of the 50 total. This list shows the number of visits to each pub. The Apple Tree has low results as it ceased trading early on. People did it by bicycle, on horse back and in minibuses (put on by pubs) and provided welcome revenue for some of our more remote pubs.
Watch this space for details of the Somerset Pub Trail 2025.
GOOD NEWS FOR ALL PUB TRAIL FANS!
It’s back! After a 5 year break the Somerset branch of CAMRA 18th Pub Trail is due to start on July 20th 2024.
WHY HAVE WE REVIVED THE PUB TRAIL?
The last Pub Trail we attempted to run in 2020 was unfortunately called off because of the COVID lockdown. We have had many requests to revive it but the time had to be right. So many pubs have been lost completely, changed use or changed hands that we were waiting for the situation to stabilise in the hope that the 50 pubs participating would still be there to visit by the end of the trail.
Both pubs and breweries are still struggling to survive. This is your chance to show your support! Many pubs showed a real community spirit during lockdown producing takeaway food and beers and helping the community where needed in many other ways. In many villages they were a lifeline. I, for one, was saddened to see many of my old favourites are no longer here. But the news isn’t all bad! We have some new pubs in the Pub Trail as well as the usual favourites like the Somerset branch Pub of the Year winners the Halfway House at Pitney (2023) and Crossways Inn (2024). Most of the pubs are either freehold or owned by small chains. There are 2 community owned pubs; The New Inn at Halse and the Crown Inn at Fivehead. There are historic pubs, quirky pubs, good food pubs and old fashioned good drinking pubs. There is bound to be a pub to suit everyone, and we hope you return to visit them after the Trail finishes.
All participating pubs serve a minimum of 2 real ales, most supporting at least one local brewery. Many also have local ciders, including the Pebbles Tavern in Watchet which has won Somerset Cider Pub of the Year for the last 10 years. But there are other gems out there to be discovered. And don’t forget to visit those furthest from the centre, they are all worth a visit!
Download your passport as an Adobe Acrobat pdf file: Somerset Pub Trail 2024 Passport