The Little Green Dragon in Winchmore Hill is among four pubs which have reached the final round of the Campaign for Real Ale's Pub of the Year contest.
Winchmore Hill's Little Green Dragon is one of four pubs from around the UK in the final round of the CAMRA Pub of the Year contest
Richard Reeve, owner of Winchmore Hill's Little Green Dragon, is no stranger to award presentations. Since 2017, when he turned a vacant shop in Green Lanes into a micro-pub named after its former bigger neighbour, now a branch of Waitrose, Richard has won so many awards from the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) that in 2023 they barred him from entering the contest to give others a chance! But that didn't stop Richard from regaining the Enfield & Barnet title this year and going on to be crowned London Pub of the Year for 2024.
What next? National Pub of the Year, of course! And last week CAMRA's What's Brewing magazine duly announced that the LGD had reached the "Super Regional" round of the national competition:
The hunt to find the very best pub in the UK continues. We’re proud to announce the top four pubs who have made it through to the Super Regional round of the prestigious Pub of the Year 2024 competition.
The final four were judged and selected by CAMRA volunteers, based on the pub’s atmosphere, décor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix and most importantly – their quality of cask beer, real cider and perry!
The top four are:
- Black Horse, Preston in the North West of England.
- Three B’s, Bridlington in Yorkshire.
- Little Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill in Greater London.
- Bailey Head, Oswestry in the West Midlands.
The final round, and the announcement for the overall winner for Pub of the Year 2024, will take place in January 2025.
Richard has been quick to share out some of the credit:
"I was delighted (and also a little shocked) to learn that our little micropub had been judged by CAMRA as one of the top four pubs in the UK! Clearly, at this stage of the competition, it is about far more than beer quality, so I really must thank my incredible family and staff and amazing regulars for making visitors feel so welcome in the Little Green Dragon."
The interior of the Little Green Dragon: Not recommended for lovers of minimalism!
Local musical duo That Blue Patch run a monthly singers night at the Little Green Dragon. Singer and multi-instrumentalist Ruth Mignano is unsurprised by the Little Green Dragon's success:
"The LGD is truly a community pub - we're always welcomed warmly by Richard and his fantastic 'crew', whether regulars or visitors. Visitors quickly become regulars. Richard has embraced local music, encouraging many novices to perform to an always appreciative audience. Singers' night is a fabulously well attended event.
"The community element is demonstrated by the huge amount of money raised for registered charities by the good folks who drink at the Dragon.
"It's not only beer - Macmillan coffee mornings are held here too, Morris dancers appear, Christmas songs and carols are sung.
"The beer, as acknowledged by CAMRA, is varied, extremely well stocked, maintained and served.
"We are very lucky to have this gem of a Dragon in our neighbourhood."