Rhos yr Hafod in Cross Inn, near Llanon, has been selected as Bae Ceredigion CAMRA’s pub of the year, reclaiming the title that it first won in 2018.

Pubs are nominated for the award by local CAMRA members and are then visited anonymously by judges who evaluate them against set criteria. The quality of the real ale is the most important single factor for a CAMRA award, and pubs are also assessed for the role they play in their local community, atmosphere, décor, overall offer and welcome.

“Having come runner-up in the Bae Ceredigion pub of the year competition in 2017, Rhos yr Hafod first took the top honours in 2018,” said Bae Ceredigion CAMRA chairman Kathy Giles.

“This is an outstanding achievement for a small pub in a rural location, and the award recognises the commitment that sisters Angharad Hywel and Elin Gapper put into running the pub and the support it receives from the local community.”

Customers at Rhos yr Hafod receive a friendly bilingual welcome and can choose from two regularly changing real ales. These usually come from Welsh breweries and are always served in excellent condition. Elin and Angharad are knowledgeable about the beers on offer and a jaunty display of pump clips adorns the bar to promote the barrels waiting in the cellar. The pub has several rooms including quiet areas to relax in, a function room, a large rear garden and a sunny front terrace.

Judges particularly praised the role that the pub plays in its local community. It hosts board games nights, quizzes, open mic nights and it has an active darts team. It has also recently become the base of a day-time community café serving coffee and cake.

“Rhos yr Hafod will now go up against the winning pubs from Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire in the competition for CAMRA West Wales pub of the year,” said Kathy. “It won this award when it was our pub of the year in 2018 and so we are crossing our fingers for a repeat performance!”

The Slaters Arms in Corris was runner-up having won the top award in 2019. The other two finalists were the Bottle & Barrel and the Ship and Castle, both in Aberystwyth town centre.