CELEBRATIONS are in order at the Turks Head in Alcester after it was named Warwickshire Pub of the Year 2018 by Shakespeare CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).

The 17th century town house was converted back to a pub in 1999 after many years as Turks Head Antiques, and retained much of its rustic charm with wood floors, wattle and daub walls, and a brick chimney breast.

It did not appear in the group’s Good Beer Guide until 2013, but has appeared in every edition since.

Now the pub, which has been owned by Carl and Karen Buxton for 17 years, has been named the finest in Warwickshire by the branch.

Lloyd Evans, chair of the Shakespeare branch of CAMRA, said: “The Turks Head is an outstanding pub with an excellent choice of four well-kept real ales, a superb atmosphere and an adventurous choice of meals and bar snacks which is certainly worth a visit if you are ever in Alcester.

“Carl and the whole team manage an excellent range of beers which are always kept in excellent condition.

“It was chosen primarily for the quality of the real ales on offer where the Wye Valley HPA is considered by many in the branch as being consistently the best served beer in our area.”

Owner Carl Buxton said: “Thank you to all the staff, customers and suppliers who have shown us so much loyalty over the years.”

The pub will now enter the next round of judging which will be against the other CAMRA county pubs of Warwickshire.