The Cock Tavern of Hackney victorious in beard friendly pub of the year competition

The Cock Tavern wins the title of ‘Beard Friendly Pub of the Year’ for a third year in a row.

The popular Hackney watering hole reigned supreme yet again beating competition from runner-up and newcomer The High Cross from Tottenham.

The sweet taste of victory may be soured. Rumours that organisers may bar the pub from entering next year’s competition have surfaced following their string of wins.

However, the Beard Liberation Front (BLF) organiser, Keith Flett insists the pub’s hat-trick is not a result of foul play. He said, “The Cock has a reputation for being a slightly quirky place that welcomes all. We are about encouraging people to dress and appear how they like that’s probably the reason they’ve won three years in a row”.

The Cock Tavern, Pic: Ewan Munro

The annual online poll, run bythe informal association of bearded aficionados, totted upover 5,000 votes this year. BLF inspectors conduct multiple surveys of beard friendliness. The criteria for the award ranges from pubs whose drinkers and staff are diversely hirsute to menus which serve up beard friendly beers.

Flett added “The competition is more a part of ‘try-January’, getting people to pop into their local. It’s not the most-lively month in the year and it’s a bit of fun”.

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