JUNE has been a fantastic month for pub-lovers. Our hostelries have played a pivotal role in both the jubilee celebrations and the World Cup during which they have truly become cornerstones of our society.

JUNE has been a fantastic month for pub-lovers. Our hostelries have played a pivotal role in both the jubilee celebrations and the World Cup during which they have truly become cornerstones of our society.

A little closer to home than Japan and South Korea, the search is well and truly on to find the best pubs throughout Suffolk.

Apart from the brilliance of Beckham and Butt and the skills of Sinclair and Seaman, one other factor stood out from that famous day – we English just love our pubs.

The World Cup has shown that the pub is the obvious place to head to for the football fans. With morning kick-offs such as today's England v Nigeria match, pubs have had to bow to their drinkers and open doors early.

Why not thank your local by giving them the vote in this year's Pub of the Year competition?

The Evening Star's contest is nearing its deadline for this year.

Think about the pub staff – they've had to turn up for work three or four hours early and think about the landlord, who has had to contemplate extra food and drink for all those fans.

Two of the categories for this year's competition seek to find the Community Pub of the Year and the Family Pub of the Year – both of which could apply to just how your pub has responded to the patriotic activities of the last two weeks.

Did it go out of its way to welcome children into the pub for the Sweden game on the Sunday lunchtime? Was it decked out in red, white and blue for the jubilee? Was it THE place to be for the jubilee?

World Cups and jubilees don't come round that often, so whether you've though about it or not, the place you've been for either occasion is more than likely your favourite pub.

Don't just keep it to yourself – tell us about it. Imagine the look in your landlord's face when he discovers his boozer is in the running for Pub of the Year.

There are 13 categories in total including categories for Real Ale Pub, Best Food Pub and Village Pub as well as regional awards for the best pubs in the following areas: Felixstowe, Ipswich, Stowmarket, Woodbridge, Hadleigh, West Suffolk and East Suffolk.

Some of the entries we've had this year include The Beagle in Copdock, The Bell Inn in Hadleigh and the Moon and Mushroom in Swilland, but there have been dozens of others.

One reader nominated The Haven, on Felixstowe Road in the Community Pub to the delight of landlord Ray Parr

Mr Parr said his pub should be in the running for a number of reasons.

"We have pulled it back from a down and out pub to a friendly local pub. We supply a mixture of beers, lagers and spirits and we have regular pool nights, darts nights and hold regular functions and our clientele are really friendly and love a good laugh at the Haven."

On Tuesday July 2 we will print the final 100 pubs who have made it to the first shortlist in the Pub of the Year competition.

To make it even easier for you to enter, we've opened up the phone lines, e-mail and the internet to accept your vote.