A pub in Hartford has retained its title as the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Cambridgeshire pub of the year.

The King of the Belgians, owned and run by Jim and Bernie Taylor together with Jane and Matt Spicer, was recognised by CAMRA members for its selection of top local ales and good food.

The Main Street pub will now go forward to the East Anglian final, where it will be competing against some of the top pubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Lincolnshire, and Hertfordshire.

Last year, the pub placed second in East Anglian behind the Victoria Inn, based in Colchester.

Mr Taylor said: “You never go into these things expecting that you’ll do well so it comes as a surprise each and every time.”

Mr Taylor, who bought the pub four years ago, said that the key to an award-winning pub was “serving top quality beer and giving a warm welcome”.