Nominations for this year's Festive Pub of the Year competition have continued to come in.

The White Swan, Jolly Sailor, The Mermaid, The White Lion and The Portland Arms were this week added to the list.

They join The Cock Inn, The Peahen, The Boot, Blacksmiths Arms, The Slug and Lettuce, The Robin Hood, St Albans Snug Bar and O'Neills in this year's competition.

The Retailer of the Year committee - which comprises of the Review, St Albans District Council, St Albans Chamber and St Albans Civic Society - has again challenged city centre pubs to push the boat out in a bid to be crowned St Albans Festive Pub of the Year.

Last year The Boot, in Market Place won the vote of our mystery drinkers. Eighteen other pubs in the city were shortlisted and the Hare and Hounds in Sopwell Lane won second prize.

Organisers also named their second Festive shop Window of the Year. Raft, a furniture store in Chequer Street, won the vote of our mystery shoppers. 

This year, members will again be on the lookout for the best festive shop window in the city centre. They will be pounding the streets looking for retailers who have brought festive cheer to the streets with their bright, beautiful and bold displays.

Each establishment will be marked on a variety of different criteria including service, drinks selection, standard of decorations and atmosphere, but it must be based within the boundaries of our map. The closing date for nominations is noon on December 8.

To nominate a pub you can email the name and address of the pub to revieweditor@london.newsquest.co.uk or you can nominate a pub by text. Send your text to 80360 starting with the words ‘festivepub’ leave a space and then the name of your pub.

Calls cost no more than 25p per call from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles and some other networks may cost more. Texts cost 25p plus your normal operator text charge.

Text voting lines are open and close at noon on December 8.