A local pub reopened by a community effort has scooped yet another impressive award.
The Campaign for Real Ales (CAMRA) has named The Hop Pole Inn at Limpley Stoke the Bath and Borders pub of the year for 2026, just over a year since its reopening.
The Hop Pole Inn came to life again in January last year, after a local community benefit society (CBS) managed to raise £1.4 million to open the pub and hand the reins over to Hannah Randall and Charlie Rawlings.
Their management has seen the pub launched into national best pub conversations.
In October the pub was listed as 29th in the Good Food Guide list of its 100 best pubs in England, Scotland and Wales.
It also subsequently won the Best Bar and Pub category in Bath Life awards on March 12, 2026.
Announcing the award, a spokesperson for CAMRA said: “A mere fourteen months after re-opening as a community owned pub The Hop Pole in Limpley Stoke has been chosen as Bath & Borders CAMRA (CAMpaign for Real Ale) 2026 Pub of the year.
“The Hop Pole is a 16th century traditional two-bar pub near the Kennet & Avon Canal and the river Avon and featured in the 1993 film Remains of the Day with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson but closed in 2018.
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“A group of determined locals formed the Limpley Stoke Community Benefit Society and bought the pub from Wellington Pub Company in February 2022. In total around £1.4 million was raised to purchase the pub and fund the substantial restoration, in addition many local companies and dozens of unpaid volunteers supported the restoration with free labour and/or materials.
“The Hop Pole is open every day except Monday and usually offers three cask beers, mostly locally produced, including from nearby Kettlesmith and locally sourced ingredients including from the nearby Rawlings family farm.
“Many congratulations to the Limpley Stoke Community Benefit Society and pub management team. The certificate will be presented to the pub on the evening of Tuesday 21st April.
“The 2026 runner-up is The Raven, Bath (the 2023 winner) and their certificate will be presented to the pub on the evening of Thursday 21st May.”
CAMRA was founded in 1971 and is a volunteer led not for profit organisation with approximately 150,000 members. It aims to promote good quality real ale, ciders and perries and to have thriving pubs and clubs in every community.
The Bath and Borders branch covers an area stretching from just North of Bath to Westbury in the East, just South of Wells in the West and down to Wincanton in the South – an area including over 250 real ale pubs.
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