We have a pint in the pub near Bristol that has just been named best in the region

The building itself is over 500 years old but The Horseshoe has only been a pub for the past decade.

And now it has been named Bristol & District pub of the year 2024 by CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale).

One of the oldest buildings in Chipping Sodbury - and, according to the landlord, ‘very haunted’ - it was once a stationery shop, a wine bar and a house.

And there’s certainly a homely feel to the pub as soon as you set foot inside. Even as a first-time visitor, the welcome I got was as friendly as any I can remember in a pub.

The pub is owned by friends Paul Freeman, Steve Sands and Tony Wigginton, but the day-to-day running of the place is down to Matthew Lewis and his wife, Joanne.

Matthew and his team have created something quite special at The Horseshoe, which has gained a strong reputation for the range and quality of its real ales.

There are seven real ale pumps and many of those on offer when I visited were in the stronger and darker category - proper winter beers.

There was Fine Tuned Brewery’s Twist and Stout from Somerset, Old Speckled Hen, Exeter Brewery Fall’s Over, Arkell’s Wiltshire Gold, Hardys & Hansons Olde Trip and Brains The Rev James. I went for the Cotswold-brewed Uley Pigs Ear which was in perfect condition and crystal clear.

But on the lunchtime I was there, Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone lager seemed to be the drink of choice - it was flying out. With muddy booted-drinkers and wet dogs drying out near the fire, you can easily imagine Clarkson taking time out from Diddly Squat Farm for a pint of his lager with the locals.

Other draught choices include Guinness, Thatchers Gold, Cornish Rattler cider, Festival Ferret Scrumpy cider, Pravha, Coors, Madri and Butcombe’s Tall Tails Pale Ale, A short wine list includes Woodchester Cotswold wine and there are around 30 gins to choose from.

And if you like drinks with a difference, there’s also the pub’s famous Jam Roly Poly shots. An acquired taste, perhaps, but worth a try.

Warmed by a woodburner in one room, there are beer pump clips on the walls and lots of amusing signs. I sat next to one with the words ‘founder member of the grumpy old men’s club - never happy unless complaining’.

The pub also runs regular events - recent nights have included Murder Mystery Night, Cher tribute, Harry Potter cocktail party and a Roy Orbison and Meatloaf tribute.

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Landlord Matthew says: “The team who work at The Horseshoe are second to none. My wife pushes our social media presence and has become the face of The Horseshoe. The rest of the team are incredibly friendly, always wanting a chat, always up for a dress up, and incredibly passionate about the drinks we sell. It's one of the many reasons we have been in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for six or seven years.

“Since taking over the pub, we have installed TVs for sport, started weekly live music that supports local musicians as well as big tributes. We have turned the space upstairs into a beautiful function room where we can host a wide range of events.”

The Horseshoe, 2 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6AH.