The votes have been counted, the nominations verified and six pubs have been shortlisted for the coveted Stroud News and Journal Pub of the Year 2109 award.

Over 400 votes were received from the paper’s readers who were quick to tell us whey they loved their local.

Competition has been fierce, and it is down to the number of wonderful pubs that can be founded nestled in the Five Valleys and across to the Severn Vale.

Now, readers are being invited to tell us who should win the highest accolade by voting for their favourite out of the final six pubs.

Stroud News and Journal:

Miles from the Prince Albert - just one of the pubs who have made it through to the SNJ Pub of the Year 2019 shortlist

A full list of the shortlisted pubs appear at the bottom of this article, along with details of how to vote, and over the next six weeks we’ll be looking at each pub in detail.  This week we visit The Prince Albert in Rodborough.

Perched on the edge of Rodborough Common, ‘The Albert’ as it is fondly known is the village pub a short walk from the centre of Stroud.

And while the friendly local sits up a gasp-inducing hill the bar and beer garden is generally found to be packed full of happy customers - which is testament to the pub’s popularity.

Run by landlord Miles and landlady Lotte,The Albert is an old school boozer which boasts some of the best live music in the South West, and a jammed packed programme of other events too - or so our readers told us.

From talks and discussions on a variety of topics, to fundraisers and foodbank collections - it’s the pub with a heart whose doors are always open.

Stroud News and Journal:

Readers told us that they love the pub for the warm welcome that they receive when they walk through the door

One of the readers told us that they loved ‘going up the hill to The Albert’ because they knew that they would be ‘greeted with a cheeky smile and a warm welcome’. And more often than not an excellent band hot off a UK tour who might have just stopped at the pub for some of Lotte’s famous hospitality.

Another praised the pair in charge for their excellent choice of beers behind the bar which they said had “seen them roll down the hill a few times”.

And at least a handful of readers praised the team for their hospitality, kindness and the warm welcome that is bestowed on everyone who comes through the door - regardless of where they are from.

Landlord Miles Connolly said that both he and Lotte were delighted to have been shortlisted for the award.

“We were really pleased when we heard that we were in the top six pubs, thank you so much to everyone who nominated us,” he said.

“Seriously, we’re chuffed to bits - thank you.”

If you would like to vote for The Prince Albert, or any of the other five pubs that have been nominated then you can do so by visiting the SNJ website.

Voting instructions can be found in full there but the following rules do apply:

  • Only one vote will be accepted per email address
  • Readers can only vote for the six shortlisted pubs
  • Voting will remain open until midnight Sunday, March 24 - all votes received after that time will not be accepted
  • All six runners up will receive certificates.

Landlords, managers and staff are also free to vote for their own pubs.

So if you know of a pub that deserves the coveted Stroud News and Journal Pub of the Year 2019 award to hang pride of place on the wall then get your vote in quick - we want to hear from the experts - our readers.

The pub with the most votes will be crowned Pub of the Year at the end of March, and be presented with our coveted trophy and certificate, as well as a special prize.

Shortlist for pub of the year:

The Crown and Sceptre, Stroud

The Old Badger Inn, Eastington

The Old Fleece, Woodchester

The Prince Albert, Rodborough

The Red Lion, Arlingham

The Ship Inn, Brimscombe

What are you waiting for? Make sure that your favourite pub is recognised as Pub of the Year 2019.

Let us know who you think should win NOW via this link