Each year, the members of Durham CAMRA are invited to nominate pubs for the Pub of the Year competition. The most popular suggestions are put onto a shortlist, and voting is held to choose a winner and runner-up. Pubs are judged on a range of criteria provided by CAMRA, including beer quality, clientele mix and sympathy with CAMRA aims and objectives. In 2014, in order to reflect the diversity of the large geographical area covered by the branch it was decided to choose Town and Country Pubs of the Year rather than a straight winner and runner up. The winners of the branch awards also go through as candidates for the Regional Pub of the Year award, competing with Pub of the Year winners from the other branches in the region. Previous Regional successes include the Grey Horse in Consett in 2019 and 2023, The Surtees Arms in Ferryhill Station (winner in 2010), The Ship in Middlestone (runner up 2014), The Victoria in Durham (third place 2014) and Old Elm Tree in Durham (runner up 2015; third place 2016).
The Branch's biggest successes to date are for the Beamish Mary which was was the overall winner in 1994; and for the Station House in Durham which was not only Regional winner but also won in the Super Region round, making it one of the best 4 pubs in the country and eventually being a commendable runner up to tamworth tap in the final national judging round.
In 2019 the competition was ameded slightly to create a new category of City Pub of the Year to cover the City of Durham area. The Town Pub of the Year is now for the best pubs in these towns: Bishop Auckland, Crook, Chester-le-Street, Consett, Ferryhill, Peterlee, Seaham, Sedgefield, Spennymoor, Stanley and Tow Law
City Pub of the Year
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Old Elm Tree, Durham | Station House, Durham Victoria, Durham |
| 2023 | Old Elm Tree, Durham | Station House, Durham Victoria, Durham |
| 2022 | Station House, Durham | Old Elm Tree, Durham Victoria, Durham |
| 2021 | No contest due to COVID pandemic | |
| 2020 | Victoria, Durham City | Station House, Durham |
| 2019 | Victoria, Durham City | Station House, Durham |
Town Pub of the Year
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Grey Horse, Consett | Frog and Ferret, Spennymoor Little Tap, Spennymoor |
| 2023 | Grey Horse, Consett | Coalhouse, Seaham Little Tap, Spennymoor |
| 2022 | Grey Horse, Consett | Butchers Arms, Chester-le-Street Little Tap, Spennymoor |
| 2021 | No contest due to COVID pandemic | |
| 2020 | Grey Horse, Consett | Butchers Arms, Chester-le-Street |
| 2019 | Grey Horse, Consett | Butchers Arms, Chester-le-Street |
| 2018 | Victoria, Durham City | Station House, Durham City |
| 2017 | Victoria, Durham City | Station House, Durham City |
| 2016 | Old Elm Tree, Durham | Tap and Spile, Durham |
| 2015 | Old Elm Tree, Durham | Tap and Spile, Durham Victoria Inn, Durham |
| 2014 | Victoria Inn, Durham | Tap and Spile, Durham |
Country Pub of the Year
| Year | Winner | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill Station | Beamish Mary, No Place Black Lion, Wolsingham Three Horseshoes, Leamside |
| 2023 | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill Station | Beamish Mary, No Place Three Horseshoes, Leamside |
| 2022 | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill Station | Beamish Mary, No Place Stapylton Arms, Hawthorn |
| 2021 | No contest due to COVID pandemic | |
| 2020 | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill Station | Three Horseshoes, Leamside |
| 2019 | Three Horseshoes, Leamside | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill Station |
| 2018 | Three Horseshoes, Leamside | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill |
| 2017 | Smiths Arms, Castle Dene, Chester-le-Street | Dun Cow, Seaton |
| 2016 | Dun Cow, Seaton Village | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill |
| 2015 | The Surtees Arms, Ferryhill | Hare and Hounds, Westgate Ship Inn, Middlestone Village |
| 2014 | Ship Inn, Middlestone Village | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill |
Pub of the Year
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Tap and Spile, Durham | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill |
| 2012 | Victoria Inn, Durham | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill |
| 2011 | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill | Tap and Spile, Framwellgate Moor |
| 2010 | Surtees Arms, Ferryhill | Stables, Beamish Hall |
| 2009 | Victoria Inn, Durham | Tap and Spile, Framwellgate Moor |