The Railway Arms – CAMRA Essex Pub of the Year 2022

The Railway Arms is celebrating after being named the Essex CAMRA Pub of the Year.

Pub Manager Graham Pearson was presented with the award on Sunday, along with the Jack Hillier award for county pub of the year.

Graham Pearson said: “We won two awards which was a bit unexpected. It’s fantastic. It’s a great achievement considering we’ve only been open for a year.”

Explaining the challenge of taking on the pub during the pandemic, Graham said: “Nobody was quite certain how it would go but it’s been a great success and very well supported.”

Prior to being named North West Essex Pub of the Year and then Essex Pub of the Year, the Railway Arms was a runner up in the Real Ale Campaign group’s National Pub Saving Awards competition and was entered in the 2022 Good Beer Guide.

Since its reopening, the pub has hosted numerous events, including welcoming Ukrainian refugees into the community, Burns Night and the pub’s own birthday celebrations.

The picture shows Graham Pearson (L) with Graham Darby (R), Essex Area Organiser for CAMRA as he presents the awards for CAMRA County Pub of the Year 2022 – Credit: © Celia Bartlett