The Rock Point, Lyme Regis, has won the Beer Drinkers Pub of the Year Award, organised by the West Dorset branch of CAMRA.
West Dorset CAMRA chairman Bruce Mead (left) with Rock Point general manager Connor Wilson. Photograph: Rich Gabe
The award goes to the pub that consistently serves the best well-kept cask ale throughout the last year. There are different judging criteria to the branch’s Pub of the Year contest. CAMRA members judge throughout the year via the national beer scoring system.
The Rock Point is a tied St Austell pub situated in the heart of Lyme Regis, with panoramic seaside views of the Jurassic coast. It offers accommodation. The 18th century inn was refurbished and acquired by St Austell in 2020. Two regular cask ales are permanently available, with a third from the brewer’s small batch range often on sale.
“I am delighted that the pub has won the award, and particularly pleased that it was being presented to coincide with the launch of the Good Beer Guide,” said outgoing general manager and license holder Dan Townsend. “The Rock Point was proud to be the only pub listed in Lyme Regis last year.”
New general manager, Connor Wilson, added: “I am proud to represent the pub and carrying on selling cask ale at an excellent award-winning standard.”
Local highlights in the Good Beer Guide include the community owned Elm Tree at Langton Herring, and two former award winners: the Thimble Inn, Piddlehinton, a thatched traditional Palmers pub, and the Sailors Return, where more Dorset beers, including Cerne Abbas, Hattie Brown’s, and Palmers can regularly be found on offer.
The recently restored Bottle Inn, Marshwood, has made the guide, offering some beers seldom seen in Dorset. The White Hart, Yetminster, the current West Dorset cider pub of the year, also makes the guide for consistently serving good beer.
The Wetherspoon pub group is represented by the William Henry, Weymouth, and the Royal Oak, Dorchester. Bridport has the current West Dorset Pub of the Year, the Tiger Inn, plus former winners the Ropemakers and the Woodman. The Pursuit of Hoppiness also makes the guide.
