CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale has launched a new national campaign – Community Pubs Month – taking place throughout April to drive footfall into local pubs and champion hard working pub licensees at a time when 16 pubs close their doors across Britain every week.

In the Wessex region, over 240 pubs have signed up to take part in Community Pubs Month. As the first ever year for this new campaign, Community Pubs Month has been organised to promote pubs as invaluable community assets, and outlets which vast numbers of local people across the UK rely upon so heavily during their daily lives.

In a bid to showcase the diversity and innovation of Britain’s locals at the start of Community Pubs Month, CAMRA has also released a roll call of its local pubs of the year for the first time. Voted for by members of CAMRA’s 200+ local branches, these winners will now go on to compete in regional rounds, with one pub eventually going on to be crowned CAMRA's National Pub of the Year early next year. The local winners are: Railway Arms, 26 Anstey Road, Alton, Hampshire Waggon & Horses, High Street, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Hole in the Wall, 36 Great Southsea St, Southsea, Hampshire Guide Dog, 38 Earls Road, Bevois Valley, Southampton, Hampshire The Crown Inn, Walkers Lane, Shorwell, Isle of Wight