A POPULAR watering hole has been named as the best pub in north Essex for the third year running.

Colchester and North East Essex Camra has named The New Inn, in Chapel Street South, Colchester, as its pub of the year for 2019.

Lauded for its real ales and friendly atmosphere, the pub has been run by landlords Joe Hanrahan and Shannon Boyle for just over three years.

Mr Hanrahan said: "Colchester has a fantastic array of real ale and craft beer pubs to offer the public.

"For The New Inn to be given this amazing accolade for the third year running is beyond belief.

"We honestly thought we’d be lucky to be mentioned.

"Foremost, we’d like to thank our customers, staff, Camra and supportive publicans and breweries for their help, guidance and support over the three years we’ve been here.

"Oh and we serve homemade food Tuesday to Saturday and Sunday."

The New Inn, which also won the best town pub category, will now go on to the Essex round of Camra's Pub of the Year competition, which it won in 2017.

If successful at the county competition, the pub could make it to the East Anglian heats and then potentially compete for National Camra Pub of the Year.

Runner up in the town pub category was Stanway's The Live and Let Live, which made its way up the ladder from third in 2018.

Rounding off the top three was The Ale House, in Butt Road, which returns to the list after a two year absence.

In the rural competition, it was a magnificent fifth win in a row for Wivenhoe's The Black Buoy, a community pub which was saved from closure by residents of the town.

Second place was Rowhedge's Ye Olde Albion, known for its wide range of real ales, served right on the river front.

Highly commended was Halstead's White Hart, the first time the popular pub has made the list.

Martin Ibberson, chairman of Colchester and North East Essex Camra, said: "Pub of the Year is our flagship award and is highly valued by its winners.

"We’re very pleased with the number of members who have contributed both to the vote and by submitting beer scores throughout the year.

"Congratulations to all the pubs who have achieved an award, as ever the competition was very close and demonstrated the depth and quality of pubs in our branch area."

Camra's 34th Colchester Real Ale and Cider Festival returns to Colchester Arts Centre from May 28 to June 1.