(The Blind Bull: Courtesy CAMRA)

Where one drinks matters. Along with the beer it can add or detract to the experience.

And now CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), one of the UK’s leading advocates for beer and the pub community, has picked the best-looking pubs of the year and they’re all stunners.

The awards were broken out into several categories…

(Swan & Railway: Courtesy CAMRA)

Historic England Conservation – Sponsored by Historic England, this award is given for work which best conserves what is good in the pub to ensure its future for generations.

(Brickmaker’s Alehouse: CAMRA)

Refurbishment – Refurbishment can range from a complete gutting and replacement to enhancing the design of what was originally in the pub.

Conversion to Pub Use – When an existing building is converted to pub use. Pubs are judged on the taste and restraint used on the outside and inside of the pub.

New Build – This category addresses newly built pubs. They might reflect its past or it could be completely modern.

Community Local Award (formerly the Joe Goodwin Award) – This award is reserved for outstanding refurbished street-corner local pubs.

And this year’s winners are:

• Blind Bull, Little Hucklow, Derbyshire, joint winner of the Refurbishment Award
• Green Dragon, Flaunden, Hertfordshire, joint winner of the Refurbishment Award
• Brickmaker’s Alehouse, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, joint winner of the Conversion to Pub Use Award
• Colmore Tap, Birmingham, joint winner of the Conversion to Pub Use Award
• Swan & Railway, Wigan, winner of the Historic England Conservation Award
• Bridge Hotel, Horwich, near Bolton, winner of the Community Local Award

(Colmore Tap: Courtesy CAMRA)

Also highly commended for the Refurbishment Award is the Air Hostess, in Tollerton near Nottingham.

“This year’s judges have selected a fantastic range of buildings, from a structure once used as a brick manufacturer’s showroom, to a beloved local that underwent a refurbishment planned to be as eco-friendly as possible,” said Andrew Davison, chair of CAMRA’s Pub Design Award judging panel.

“They are examples of pubs that have been lovingly curated and preserved, and in some cases that have stood the test of time for years and years. 

“We had a difficult time narrowing it down to just these seven awardees – congratulations to them all!”

(All images courtesy CAMRA)