THE Nag’s Head Inn at Lyme narrowly missed out in a ‘photo finish’ for the regional pub of the year award.

The free house was pipped at the post in a closely fought contest to finish up in third spot.

First prize in the competition, open to hostelries across the Wessex Region, went to The Guide Dog in Southampton and the Red Lion Inn at Kilmington in Wiltshire came second.

The Nag’s, in Silver Street, was nominated for the contest by the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) West Dorset branch.

The pub was visited independently by three judges and some of their comments are published in the citation.

They include: “The pub turned out to be a bit of a Tardis, greater in depth than the outside width.

“A fine town pub with grand views from the rear patio and garden – a bit of an oasis. There’s a games room and a sporting theme with pool and darts.

“Clean, spacious and tidy. The welcome was genuine with a chatty, informative barmaid. The ale was good value, especially the house beer at £2.10 a pint.”

Another judge observed the pub has many active darts teams and weekly live music.

“The view of the coast from the garden is magnificent. Beers priced from £2 a pint and top notch. Three out of four ales were local.”

The third judge also praised ‘the bright barmaid, who smiles brightly every time she serves a customer. I particularly enjoyed the superb Otter Ale in top condition, plus Otter Bitter (badged as Sark Lark) and Isle of Purbeck Wrecked, all in excellent order’.

Awarded the title of West Dorset CAMRA Pub of the Year in February, the Nag’s Head went forward to the Wessex regional competition with eleven other pubs.

Licensees Robin and Debbie Hamon have owned the Nag’s Head Inn for 14 years and kept a pub in Guernsey for six years before that. Born on the tiny Channel Island of Sark, Robin Hamon was originally a fisherman. Debbie Hamon is a local girl, born in Lyme Regis.

West Dorset CAMRA spokesman Michel Hooper-Immins is delighted a Dorset pub made it to the top three in the region.

He said: “It’s a great achievement to beat so many other good pubs over five counties.

“Very often these competitions turn on the quality of the barstaff and this is clearly the case at the Nag’s Head as all the judges have praised the bright barmaid, always smiling.

“West Dorset CAMRA congratulate Robin and Debbie Hamon.”