How is the Scottish Pub of the Year Selected?

In March of each year, each CAMRA branch in Scotland nominates a pub and a judge.

  • Pubs are split into two “areas”.
  • Judges assess pubs in their area, except for their “home” entrant, using criteria based on those used in the Super-region round and beyond.
  • The top two pubs from each area progress to the “Final four”. These are assessed by a panel of 4 judges using the same criteria as for the Area round.
  • The result will be announced towards the end of July.
  • The winning pub progresses to the Super-region round of the national competition.

Procedures for branches nominating a Club of the Year and Cider Pub of the Year are the same, but due to the small number of nominations, the clubs and pubs progress directly to their respective Final round. The winners, again, progress to the Super-region round of their respective national competition.

CAMRA Scotland Pub of the Year 2026 - Final Results

 PositionBranchPubScore
1Ayrshire & WigtownshireSteam Packet Inn, Isle of Whithorn403.5
2Edinburgh & SE ScotlandVolunteer Arms (Staggs), Musselburgh398.0
 3Kingdom of FifeHillend Tavern, Dalgety Bay394.0
4Forth ValleyFour Marys, Linlithgow387.5

CAMRA Scotland Cider Pub of the Year 2026

The Albert Tavern in Freuchie has been judged to be the CAMRA Scotland Cider Pub of the Year for 2026. The presentation took place on Friday, 14 August.