As with the Pub of the Year competition where a pub contravenes CAMRA national policy such that it is not eligible for entry into the GBG it is automatically ruled out of the competition. Clubs, which similarly offend, cannot be considered for COTY.
At present the only policies that make a club ineligible for the GBG and so COTY are:
- Internal Policy Document, Publications Section, General Policies, 5.5
Branches should not include in publications, any pub which restricts entry to any individual due to mode of dress, shape, size, sexuality, or colour except for comprehensive local guides which should include a health warning.
- External Policy Document, Pubs, 13.4
CAMRA opposes restrictions on entry to pubs on the grounds of dress, shape, size, gender, sexuality, colour, ethnic origin, or religion.
Those who are familiar with how POTY operates may find that the following table answers some of their questions about COTY. It also shows that COTY and POTY are quite similar competitions. The differences are found below in the background information on judging clubs for COTY.
| |
CLUB |
PUB |
| Does not contravene IPD General Policies no. 5.5 nor EPD Pubs no. 13.4. |
Is eligible for GBG and therefore COTY. |
Is eligible for GBG and therefore POTY. |
| Judged as branch COTY/POTY. |
Goes forward to Regional Round of COTY. |
Goes forward to Regional Round of POTY. |
| COTY judges ie non-local CAMRA branch members who are not members of the club admitted without prior notification. * |
Will be judged in Regional Round of COTY. If not it is knocked out at this stage. |
- |
| Wins COTY/POTY Regional Round. |
Goes forward to Super Round of COTY. |
Goes forward to Super Regional Round of POTY. |
| Wins COTY Super Round or POTY Super Regional Round. |
Goes forward to Final of COTY. |
Goes forward to Final of POTY. |
| Wins Final Round. |
Is National Club of the Year. |
Is National Pub of the Year. |
* Note: It is very important that the local branch confirms that this is the case before entering a club into COTY.
To fully support the objective of Clubs Committee.
"To promote real ale to groups currently under-represented in the real ale drinker profile."
So that all our activities are directed towards getting more club members to drink real ale.
The Club of the Year Competition contributes to this by:
- Recognising and rewarding excellence amongst UK clubs and encouraging others to aim for high standards.
- Increasing public and CAMRA awareness of, and interest in clubs. Particularly those which exhibit commitment to quality real ale.
- Achieving positive publicity for CAMRA, its policies and campaigns in relation to clubs.
Deadline for self-nomination entries to Clubs Committee
31 March 2010 -
Submit an online Self-Nomination form
Deadline for branches to nominate entry to their Regional Director
30 April 2010 -
Submit an online Branch Nomination form (login required)
Deadline for declaration of Regional Winners; judging organised by Regional Director
15 August 2010
Deadline for declaration of Super Round Winners; judging done by Clubs Committee members
31 October 2010
Deadline for declaration of National Winner; final judges appointed by Clubs Committee
31 December 2010
National winner announced internally
Early 2011
National winner presentation
May 2011
Unlike CAMRA's Pub of the Year competition where judges assess the whole pub, the COTY competition is only interested in the club's real ales and factors influencing their quality.
Therefore when judging entries to COTY the single criterion
Commitment to Quality Real Ale is applied which in the early rounds is very likely to be decided by judging which club serves the best quality real ales. In the later rounds where judges are attempting to determine which is the best among clubs which have already defeated other good clubs the other factors listed below on the form are more likely to come into play.
Most comments about judging a pub apply equally to judging a club although it is sometimes even more subjective. Ideally the club should be visited more than once and at different times. Failing this it should be judged when it is expected to be reasonably busy. Also if at all possible the judge should engage the steward in conversation or if not available another member of bar staff as well as any club committee member present at the time.
Of course this should be done without the judge saying exactly why they are there. Usually mentioning that they are there surveying for CAMRA acts as a good "ice breaker".
Finally like all other CAMRA activities judging a club should be fun. So enjoy it!