CAMRA Kernow Pub of the Year: best pub in Cornwall for 2024

After three seasonal winners, judging took place again to crown the overall winner.

Now the Cornwall Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale has revealed that this is none other than the Hole in the Wall, in Bodmin.

The pub was only announced as the third and final seasonal winner at the start of the month, when it was crowned Winter Pub of the Year.

At the time CAMRA Kernow said: “The Hole in the Wall is a deserving winner as, unlike a lot of other pubs, it has not changed and consistently serves a broad range of very well kept and reasonably priced real ales.

“The staff are welcoming and the pub raises funds for many good causes. It makes an ideal pub to cosy up around the lovely fire at this time of year, but is also a good pub for real ale throughout the year.

“It has great, friendly atmosphere and well deserves this award.”

The Hole in the Wall has been named CAMRA Kernow Pub of the Year for 2024 (Image: Google Street View)

It then went up against the Driftwood Spars at St Agnes and The Blisland Inn, Bodmin, as Summer and Autumn winners respectively.

When deciding on the overall Pub of the Year, CAMRA Kernow’s panel of judges were diligent in assessing the finalists in all of the below categories:

• Quality and condition of real ale/cider
• Promotion and knowledge of real ale/cider
• Cleanliness and staff hygiene
• Community Focus Service and welcome
• Style, décor and atmosphere
• Sympathy with CAMRA’s aims
• Overall impression and value

CAMRA Kernow said: “The Hole in the Wall scored highly in all categories and ended up narrowly beating a former National Pub of the Year, The Blisland Inn into second place.

“The Blisland will be receiving a runners yp award.”

The Blisland Inn at Bodmin has been named runner up (Image: Google Maps)

The Hole in the Wall will now progress further in CAMRA’s competition for National Pub of the Year by becoming Cornwall’s entry in the South West regional contest.

“Who knows, it may even emulate the previous achievement of the Blisland and become National Pub of the Year!” added CAMRA Kernow.

Vince Curtis, chair of Cornwall CAMRA, will present The Hole in the Wall with their winner’s trophy next week.

It claims the crown from last year's winner, The 'Front, in Falmouth. 

Real Ale is defined by CAMRA as beer served in traditional fashion, i.e. with no extraneous CO2 in contact with the beer to pressurise it or to drive it into the glass; nor will it have been filtered, pasteurised, or otherwise had natural live yeast removed before point of sale.