The Cock Tavern has retained the title of Beard Friendly Pub of the Year – and might have to be barred from entering next year because it has won so often.
The pub in Mare Street racked up over 5,000 votes in an online poll to win the Beard Liberation Front’s award.
Organiser Keith Flett said: “It’s got a strange mixture, it’s a traditional pub full of old gits like me, albeit recreated and modern in terms of the people who use it and beer range.
“It’s very diverse in terms of gender and ethnicity which isn’t as common as one might like in a pub and it has a good range of beards.
“Before 2012 you probably wouldn’t want to go in without the guards, because it was rough and ready.”
Keith denies having shares in the pub, which has now won the award three times.
“We aren’t affiliated to anything really or the dry January campaign which is about de-toxing. We are very much on the try January side of things. We might give them a break next year. It gets a bit boring after a while.”
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