THE St Helens Campaign for Real Ale branch has revealed its top three establishments for this year's Pub of the year.

In first place for the St Helens CAMRA Pub of the year award is the Cricketers Arms, based on Peter Street, St Helens.

Taking second is The Turks Head on Morley Street, St Helens and in third is the Skew Bridge Ale House on Dane Court, Rainhill.

St Helens Star:

Andy and Denise Evans, of the Cricketers Arms who have again been named St Helens CAMRA Pub of the Year

How are the winners chosen?

The St Helens CAMRA Pub of the Year can be voted for by all CAMRA members registered with the branch.

Seven pubs were shortlisted to be voted on by the members. These seven where shortlisted based on WhatPub scoring - which is also carried out by any CAMRA members visiting pubs during the year.

CAMRA members are encouraged to score the beer available in a pub whenever they visit using the WhatPub website (also available as a mobile friendly web app). The beers are scored from 0-5:

0. No cask ale available.

1. Poor

Beer that is anything from barely drinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment.

2. Average

Competently kept, drinkable pint but doesn't inspire in any way, not worth moving to another pub but you drink the beer without really noticing.

3. Good

Good beer in good form. You may cancel plans to move to the next pub. You want to stay for another pint and may seek out the beer again.

4. Very Good

Excellent beer in excellent condition.

5. Perfect

Probably the best you are ever likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award this score very rarely.

Meanwhile, members can also submit any updates via WhatPub for validation, such as opening times and number of beers available.

Out of the 80 pubs listed by St Helens CAMRA, seven were initially shortlisted. The seven shortlisted pubs were:

• The Beer Engin

• Cowley Vaults

• Cricketers Arms

• The News Room

• Skew Bridge Ale House

• Talbot Ale House

• Turks Head

CAMRA members are asked to visit each pub and score it out of 10 for six areas: - quality of ale/cider; decor/style furnishing and cleanliness; service/welcome/offering; community focus and atmosphere; sympathy with CAMRA and overall impression.

They can also submit any general comments.

The quality of ale/cider score is weighted so that it counts as 'double' compared to the other scores. Members submit their scores by a deadline and these are then all counted and compiled to decide the Pub of the Year for St Helens and Districts CAMRA area. This is also the first step in the shortlisting process that ultimately leads to CAMRA National Pub of the Year selections.

In 2018, the Cricketers Arms won the national title.