Inside cosy riverside UK pub you can reach by boat voted best in country

A Pembrokeshire pub has been named the best in Wales by a prestigious guide and is now set to compete against the UK's finest.

The Cresselly Arms in Cresswell Quay has earned the title of Wales' best pub in CAMRA's (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the Year 2024 competition. The Victorian public bar, which dates back to the 1880s, has retained much of its original charm over the years.

Not only is it Grade II listed, but its cosy farm kitchen interior is also of national historic interest, featuring a red and black quarry-tiled floor, a roaring open cast-iron fireplace, and a Victorian-era counter and bar-back shelves supported by slender columns.

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Whether you arrive by boat (via kayaking or canoe trips) from the Milford Haven estuary, paddleboard at high tide, or take a short drive from Tenby, the pub is conveniently located on several intriguing walking routes, making it a favourite spot for hikers who brave the watery arrival.

The Cresselly Arms is a sanctuary for both locals and tourists, hosting community events and partnering with street food vendors like Feast Pembrokeshire and We Love Curry, all while serving four superb cask beers.

On a bright summer's day, the pub offers the perfect vantage point to watch the sunset over the estuary - that is if you can snag a table. Given its prime location, this popular pub tends to get crowded during the warmer months, reports Wales Online.

The Pembrokeshire pub, having clinched the title of the best pub in Wales, is now in the running against 16 other regional winners to be crowned the UK's top establishment. An esteemed competition evaluates contenders on qualities such as their ambience, decoration, warmth, customer service, inclusiveness, and overall impact, with a special focus on the excellence of their live beers, real cider, and perry.

In the previous year, the Tamworth Tap from Staffordshire bagged the acclaimed National Pub of the Year award for two consecutive years, standing out in both 2023 and 2022. Staying abreast of the latest happenings in Wales is easy by subscribing to our What's On newsletter.

As part of the accolade announcements for the best in Wales, CAMRA has initiated a campaign seeking more robust planning safeguards for Welsh public houses. They're calling upon the devolved government to insist on obtaining planning consent prior to the conversion or destruction of any pub, granting communities a fighting chance to protect their treasured local establishments from undesirable alterations.

Andrea Briers, the National Coordinator for the Pub of the Year competition, enthusiastically extolled the merits of these pubs, urging patrons to visit them: "These amazing pubs really are the creme de la creme and I would encourage the public to seek out the 17 winners from across the nations and regions of the UK they are top-tier pubs serving excellent beer, cider and perry, run by welcoming, hardworking staff."

The leader of a local business association emphasised the importance of year-round support for pubs, stating: "It's also important to support your local all year round. With constant pressure from stubbornly high energy prices, fluctuating running costs and grossly unfair business rates threatening to drown pubs across the UK, it's vital to get out and support the licensed trade."

In the race to be named the best pub in the UK for 2024, here are some contenders:

• Central Southern - Bell Inn, Aldworth

• East Anglia - Blackfriars Tavern, Great Yarmouth

• East Midlands - Horse and Jockey, Stapleford

• Greater Manchester - Northumberland Arms, Marple Bridge

• Kent - Nelson Arms, Tonbridge

• Greater London - Little Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill

• Merseyside and Cheshire - Turks Head, St Helens

• North East - Grey Horse, Consett

• Northern Ireland - Dog and Duck, Lisbellaw

• Scotland - Hillend Tavern, Dalgety Bay

• South West - Crossways Inn, West Huntspill

• Surrey and Sussex - Brickmakers Alehouse, Bexhill on Sea

• Wessex - Woodman Inn, Bridport

• West Midlands - Bailey Head, Owestry

• West Pennines - Black Horse, Preston

• Yorkshire - Three B's, Bridlington