A small rustic pub in Hartford has been crowned Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year and Cambridgeshire Cider Pub of the Year for 2023.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) revealed the King of the Belgians had won the two coveted awards at the pub's annual beer festival in May and awarded them the official certificates this month.

The family-run pub beat the winning pubs in Peterborough, Cambridge and Ely to the top prize after qualifying for the finals when it picked up Huntingdonshire Pub of the Year award in March.

The Hunts Post: CAMRA issued the awards to the King of the Belgians Pub earlier this month.CAMRA issued the awards to the King of the Belgians Pub earlier this month. (Image: King of the Belgians)

Jane Spicer, one of the King of the Belgians' family owners, said: "We were thrilled to bits that we have won such a prestigious award."

Jane's husband and co-owner, Matt Spicer, added: "It was brilliant to receive. It's been hard work, but it's worth it.

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CAMRA judged the King of the Belgians as providing well-presented ranges of real ales of varied styles, high-quality draught ciders, a premise with atmosphere and style, good service and a good community focus and good value.

Matt said that the pub's community aspect helps it stand out from the rest.

The Hunts Post: Matt Spicer received the Huntingdonshire Pub of the Year award at the St Neots 'Booze on the Ouse' Beer and Cider Festival in March.Matt Spicer received the Huntingdonshire Pub of the Year award at the St Neots 'Booze on the Ouse' Beer and Cider Festival in March. (Image: Huntingdon CAMRA)

Since being purchased outright in 2012 by Jim and Bernie Taylor, the King of the Belgians beer festival and other community charity fundraising days have raised just under £65,000.

Thanks to help from customers and the committee, Matt said this year's beer festival was the "best-ever", raising £9,600, and credits them to their award success.

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He said: "It's not just me and my family running it, it's what the customers do. We get such a massive input from them; if they didn't help, we wouldn't be where we are now."

The sixteenth-century pub had previously won the award in 2017 and will now hope to go one further in the wider regional awards later this year when they come up against the very best of pubs in East Anglia.