The Real Ale Farm in Bargoed has been named one of the top four clubs in the country in CAMRA’s Club of the Year awards, one of the most respected and well-known club awards in the UK.
The Real Ale Farm has previously been named the best club in Wales but this is the first year it has made it through to the national round.
The club offers beers from the Felinfoel as well as up to four guest ales and two ciders or perries and hosts numerous charity events and beer festivals.
Housed in the former Gilfach Fargoed Fawr Farm, it is the oldest surviving building in Bargoed built in the 17th Century.
The club maintains close links with the Royal Air Force Association with memorabilia on display, which will be of interest to RAF veterans and historians.
The CAMRA Club of the Year competition is run in conjunction with Club Mirror magazine with the simple aim of finding the clubs with the greatest commitment to quality real ale – those which offer a fantastic atmosphere, welcoming surroundings and most importantly, top quality real ale served in great condition. Clubs are nominated by CAMRA branches across the country and judged by a panel of volunteer CAMRA members throughout the year.
Other finalists in the competition include the Flixton Conservative Club in Manchester, the Appleton Thorn Village Hall in Cheshire and the Albatross Club (RAFA). The four finalists were presented with a commemorative plate yesterday at the Club Mirror Awards. They will now have to wait until spring next year to discover which will be named CAMRA’s Club of the Year.
Keith Spencer, Club of the Year Co-ordinator said: “All four clubs demonstrate a first-class commitment to real ale and a dedication to the respective communities they each serve, making them all absolutely vital to their local areas.”
Sounds as if it’s worth a visit!