Snaefell Views and Top Brews: Albert Hotel is Pub of the Year

Cheers to the Albert Hotel in Port St Mary!

The harbour side pub has been crowned CAMRA’s Isle of Man Pub of the Year 2024.

It was presented the award by CAMRA’s Graeme Jones, in recognition of its excellence in serving top-notch real ale.

The Albert’s shelves are surely buckling under the weight of its accolades, having won the title multiple times before – and runner-up last year.

We have to admit, the Albert is one of Gef’s favourite pubs. Cobra on tap? Yes please.

If you’ve ever wandered into the Albert you’ll know this isn’t just any old pub.

It’s got a rich history, having had very few landlords since World War II, and it’s spotless.

No sticky tables or questionable carpets, and boasts an old-school juke box and a beautifully kept pool table.

Oh, and enough televisions to have multiple live sports on show at once.

Just pure pub perfection.

It is popular for its strong beers, like Old Empire and Abbott, which are practically always on tap for its loyal following.

So while the applause will go for its vast selection of ales, there’s much more to the Albert than just a pint.

Another thing that sets it apart is the view.

Not only does it overlook the Port St Mary harbour, but it’s also believed to be the only pub on the island where you can sip a pint and see the summit of Snafell from inside.

Beer with a view like that is hard to beat!

CAMRA members didn’t just hand over the award lightly either.

The shortlist of seven pubs, including some stiff competition from the likes of last year’s winner The Trafalgar in Ramsey and the island’s only micropub, Miller’s T’Ale, saw CAMRA voters hitting the road to sample the goods.

Only those who visited at least five of the shortlisted pubs got their votes counted. Dedication, or just a really good excuse for a pub crawl?

The judging wasn’t just about the beer, though – important as that is.

CAMRA’s discerning members took into account the whole experience, including staff knowledge, cleanliness, decor, and how well the pub embodies CAMRA’s mission to promote real ale.

While the Albert shone brightest this year, it was a close-run thing, with the Traf and the Millers T’Ale both finishing in close second.