Pubs in Kent, Greater Manchester, Wales and Devon will now face a final round of judging before the winner of the annual award is crowned in February next year.
Last year's winning pub, the Bridge End Inn in Wrexham, Wales, has once again made the top four.
Real ale quality
Camra's 145,000 members all contribute to the nominating process with each of the 200 branches choosing their favourite pub. The winners then enter 16 regional competitions before the best four pubs are decided.
The organisation reaches its verdict based on a pub's community focus, service and welcome, atmosphere, decor and value for money. However the most important criteria for judges remains the quality of real ale sold in the venue in question.
Julian Hough, Camra pubs director, said the quality of all four finalists showed there was no one model to pub operating success:
"Uniquely this year, all four are diverse in terms of size and business model. These pubs exemplify how combining first quality real ale, listening to the needs of their customer and community base, supporting local breweries and paying attention to detail can drive trade."
Camra National Pub of the Year 2012 - the four finalists react:
- The Bridge End Inn, Wrexham, Wales
Peter McGivern, Bridge End Inn licensee, said:
"We are extremely pleased to see how a year after our success as the overall winner in the competition, we are judged to be keeping up our high standards. It’s a great credit to the staff and everyone involved in the pub that things are going well, we aren’t being complacent, and we are working to a high level all the time."
- The Conqueror Alehouse, Ramsgate, Kent
Colin Aris, Conqueror Alehouse licensee, said:
"We are obviously absolutely thrilled and proud to be the first micro pub and pub from Ramsgate to have ever got this far in this national competition. This success is vindication of the micro pub model, and shows such pubs have a valid place in today’s industry."
- The Baum in Rochdale, Lancashire
Heidi Crompton, The Baum co-owner, said:
"We are ecstatic to hear this news of our success. We are one of the only traditional family pubs in our area, and are all about getting involved in the community. We ensure all our staff are well-trained and part of a big family here, and our emphasis is on buying and supporting local, independent producers - from our food to our beer."
- The Tom Cobley Tavern in Spreyton, Devon
Roger Cudlip, Tom Cobley Tavern licensee, said:
"It’s a bit of a shock to us, but fantastic news for us being a small pub in the middle of the countryside. This success is a big boost to all the staff, it puts us on the map and really brings in an awful lot of trade. It’s great to get a bit of good news, we’re chuffed to bits."