WHETHER it is a friendly landlord, great beer or something more unusual you look for in your watering hole, here is a list of some of the very best Worcestershire pubs we have visited this year.
From city centre pubs with a warm and welcoming vibe to ancient country retreats packed with history, tradition and (quite possibly) a few ghosts, here is our list of some of the great pubs visited this year.
However, only one can wear the crown or perhaps in this case, given its name, we should say three crowns.
This is a personal but not exhaustive list of some of the best pubs visited by the reporter this year based on atmosphere, the quality of the beer, value for money and the friendliness of staff.
(If you are a landlord and want us to visit your pub next year get in touch - james.connell@midlands.newsquest.co.uk).
(1) The Three Kings Inn, Hanley Castle
This ancient pub, dating back to 1500 is a jewel in the crown of English pubs - a place with soul soaked into every crooked timber and crumbling brick.
Its great advantage (and quality) is that it has remained largely unchanged for many years and has therefore kept its striking and unusual character and atmosphere. This 'leave well alone' stance has helped to conserve the pub. So many others have lost the spirit this place still has in spades.
It is also a bastion of English folk music, Morris Dancing and other musical traditions. This is not to be missed by anyone who loves an unspoilt pub which transports you back in time as soon as you cross its threshold.
It has been in the same family for over 100 years and Sue Roberts, the licensee, knows exactly what her customers like. A measure of the regard she is held in was how many cards she received for her 60th birthday this year which decorated every wall.
She only put the price of the beer up to £3.60 because the customers asked her to so it's not only a great place to try real ales but a bargain too.
(2) The Fleece Inn, Bretforton
Built between 1400 and 1450, The Fleece Inn predates the Wars of the Roses. The pub has peculiar ‘witch circles’ or ‘witch marks’ by fireplaces in the Pewter Room and Brewhouse Room to confer protection against witches and evil spirits.
The pub, owned by the National Trust, is a stronghold of English folk music, the Asparagus Festival and other native traditions.
The pub remained in the ownership of the same family until 1977. The last of the descendants was Miss Lola Taplin said to still haunt the place - fulfilling her promise - and has been known to vent her displeasure, including throwing the sandwiches of workmen in a fit of temper.
Like the Three Kings, King Charles House, the Cardinal's Hat, the Camp House Inn at Grimley and the Mug House this is one of Worcestershire's great historic pubs.
(3) The Imperial Tavern, Worcester
They say it takes a great landlord to make a great pub. Fred Jones loves his customers and they love him right back. For him customers are family.
There has been a pub with names including the Yorkshire Arms and the Brewers Arms on the site for about 300 years. The Victorian building was known as the Imperial Hotel until Black Country Ales bought Woo Bar in 2015.
The Imperial prides itself on being a family-friendly pub - children and dogs are welcome - and because of the loyal, mature customer base the pub does not employ door staff despite its city centre location - there has just never been the need.
(4) Rose and Crown, Severn Stoke
The Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke, near Worcester, may be 500 years old and remains the beating heart of the community. The landlord, Andrew Goodall, believes The Rose and Crown has the best beer garden in Worcestershire.
With its low ceiling and ancient timber frame, the pub has a quaint and quirky quality all its own but with all the modern comforts, earning a 4.5 rating on Tripadvisor after 347 reviews.
The Rose and Crown certainly lived up to its name when it was crowned the greatest British pub in the Marston's awards in September. This placed it firmly on the throne after it came out on top amongst over 1,550 Marston's pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.
The award is seen by Mr Goodall as a reflection of the quality of the beers, service, and classic food but also the resilience and adaptability of the team. This is periodically tested by Mother Nature, a cruel mistress at times, as the pub is prone to severe flooding.
(5) Ale Hub in Abbotsbury Court, St Peter's Drive, Worcester
This is not where you would expect to find a pub - on a row of shops where a supermarket and post office used to be. But that only serves to enhance its charm and the pleasant surprise of discovering it. It's almost a secret little oasis and, despite the narrow frontage, it has hidden depths and far more space than you would expect.
The pub draws in people from around the estate but also from Kempsey and Norton who love it so much they seem happy to walk there.
One of the recent successes for Ale Hub, nestled amongst shops in the heart of St Peter's, is that it carved its place in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide this year and next.
Ale Hub, which occupies what used to be the One Stop and Post Office, celebrated its second birthday at its current home in September and its inclusion in the guide might just be the staff's favourite birthday present. It may be a 'micropub' but there is nothing small about the big-hearted Ale Hub staff - or their customers - after it recently raised over £1,500 for a cancer charity.
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