A PUB is into the regional finals after winning an award for its cider.

The Woodbine in Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey, were given the Best Cider of the Year in the Essex and Hertfordshire wing of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), and will be given a certificate at a ceremony on June 17.

The pub, which also won the award in 2014, were given it based on their selection of local cider.

They will now compete against the whole of East Anglia. If their selection impresses again, they will then go up against pubs across the country.

Rob Chapman has been the landlord at the pub for five years. He bought it after running a burger van in its car park.

He said: “We specialise in real ales and ciders. We are the local, local if you like. We have been hopeful, but we did not expect to win this.”

The landlord praised his customers, and said “We’ve got a very loyal following. We are recognised as the best local ale pub in Epping Forest. We get people coming back.

“I am an ale man myself, but I do enjoy the cider here. It really started off with ale, but we are now getting more popular with both. We have got over 30 ales and ciders in our selection at any one time. We represent everyone in Essex.”

Speaking to the Guardian Series in 2014, Brendan Sothcott, of Herts and Essex CAMRA, described the pub as “friendly, reasonably priced and it is a real place for the community.”

The pub source in a number of local beers and ciders from as close as Woodford.

Rob is hopeful of the next round, having won the Essex and Herts award three times previously.

He added: “We are up there definitely, but it’s just how people vote in the next few rounds.”