2013-2019

24/7/2013

Our first annual competition was held in late July, with 11 judges taking part in all 22 pubs. We were pleased to announce that The Swan on County Road took first place, with the Style and Winch and The Flower Pot taking second and third respectively. A big thank-you to all of the pubs for taking part and kicking off the annual event with such enthusiasm. 

This year is the only year to feature bonus points for freehold pubs.

14/8/2014

Our second competition took place in August 2014, and with coverage from the Kent Messenger momentum gained and the name began to be recognised. A banner was awarded to the winner, along with a newly engraved trophy which now changes hands between the winners yearly. In 2014, The Style & Winch jumped to the top of the table (up one place), and were closely followed by the Brickmaker's Arms and Ye Olde Thirsty Pig. 

20/7/2015

Our third competition took place on the 20th July 2015 and with a record 17 judging taking part. The table changed again, with The Brickmaker's Arms pipping the Style & Winch to the top and with Ye Olde Thirsty Pig coming third once again. A big change seen in 2015, was the surge up the table from the Rifle Volunteers to a very respectable 4th overall and first in two of the sub-categories. Just proving that anything can change when the judging panel is as a fluid as the one we have at Worth a Butchers. 

28/7/2016

Our fourth competition took place on the 28th July 2016 and with a record 38 judging taking part, and  the pubs having changed in Maidstone since last year, the table really altered. The Flower Pot surged up seven places to win the competition with an incredible 412 points, whilst Ye Olde Thirsty Pig jumped up a place to second, the third year in a row the pub has been in the top three! 

Newly opened, The Stag took third place, and the Rifle Volunteers maintained its 4th place position. The Brickmaker's slipped to fifth but holds onto the Friendliest Staff category, testament to Pete and Debbie's continued smiles in the face of such adversity when we all descend! 

The Queen Anne and The Swan were both closed on the day of visit. 

05/08/2017

Our half decade competition took place on the 5th August 2017 and we once again broke the record for participants, with over 50 on the crawl at one point! Once again the table was altered radically. The Duke of Marlborough continues its climb up the table. Ye Olde Thirsty finally topped the table after its previous three years in the top three. The Flower Pot dropped just one place and was denied a second win by just two points. The Brickmaker's Arms jumped up two places to take third and the Rifle Volunteers has secured its position within the top five again, taking fifth. 

4Degrees, a new entry in the Royal Star arcade slotted comfortably into the middle of the table with a wide variety of beers and ciders on offer.  

07/08/2018

Our Sixth Annual Competition took place on the hottest day of the year. In swealtering 32 degree heat, a smaller team than usual trapsed the town, determined to complete the crawl.

The competition also returned to a weekday after the weekend proved a little too busy for smaller pubs. The Rifle Volunteers jumped further to take the title with a solid 404 points. Ye Olde Thirsty Pig slips to second, but with a higher total points than last year. The Brickmaker's holds third again but lost the friendliness category by 0.23 of a point, to the Style and Winch, which jumped from 6th, to 4th. 

The Duke of Marlborough remains in the top 5, and is the first pub to maintain a position that high after being visited in the morning. The Swan makes a resurgence up the table to take 9th and the newly renovated 'Market House' proved far less popular with the group than Earls. 

The Queen Anne and Fisherman's Arms were closed on the day of visit, and therefore unable to be included within the competition. 

8/8/2019

Our first repeat winner, The Rifle Volunteers took the title for the second time, with a slightly reduced 374 points. Certainly not a reflection on any lacking area of performance however, as the pub also claimed 'Best Atmosphere' first place and came close to taking a further three categories. 

The Duke of Marlborough at the other end of Union Street climbed the table to take second, along with two categories first prizes. Real Ale went to Cellars who boasted an impressive 11 straight from cask or keg on the day of visiting. Cellars also took third place overall. 

The Style and Winch and Ye Olde Thirsty Pig made up the top five. A number of pubs couldn't be visited this year due to closing between route writing and visitation. We hope that they'll be back in future contests.