THE Somerset branch of the CAMRA Pub Trail is back for its 18th year, starting later this month.
After a five-year break, Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA), has revived its Pub Trail now with 50 Somerset pubs on the map, running from July 20 to September 14.
To take part, all punters need to do is visit any of the pubs listed on the CAMRA pub passport and buy a drink which doesn't have to be beer.
Drinkers can then ask the bar staff for a sticker for their passport, and the aim is to visit as many pubs as possible over the eight weeks. They can then send this "passport" to CAMRA and collect their prize, a CAMRA polo shirt.
With seven pubs within close range of Taunton town centre and the rest well within our patches, it will be a quick start for many of our readers.
Announcing the trail CAMRA wrote: "The last Pub Trail we attempted to run in 2020 was unfortunately called off because of the COVID lockdown. We have had many requests to revive it but the time had to be right.
"So many pubs have been lost completely, changed use or changed hands that we were waiting for the situation to stabilise in the hope that the 50 pubs participating would still be there to visit by the end of the trail.
"Both pubs and breweries are still struggling to survive. This is your chance to show your support!"
There's plenty of new pubs on the trail, but it has also brought back old favourites including the Halfway House, Pitney, which won CAMRA's Somerset Pub of the Year in 2023, and Crossways Inn which is this year's winner.
A spokesperson for CAMRA added: "Most of the pubs are either freehold or owned by small chains.
"There are 2 community-owned pubs; The New Inn at Halse and the Crown Inn at Fivehead.
"There are historic pubs, quirky pubs, good food pubs and old-fashioned good drinking pubs. There is bound to be a pub to suit everyone, and we hope you return to visit them after the Trail finishes."
The pubs on the trail have a "minimum of two real ales". One notable pub on the list for cider is the Pebbles Tavern in Watchet, which has won Somerset Cider Pub of the Year for the last 10 years.
Download your pub passport and get planning your pub trips here: www.somerset.camra.org.uk/viewnode.php?id=64759.
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