CAMRA Announce 2008 Pub of the Year Winner

National Pub Award marks start of Community Pubs Week

16 February 2008 - The Campaign for Real Ale has announced the winner of the coveted title of National Pub of the Year 2008. This goes to The Old Spot in Gloucestershire following a vote that considered the quality of the beer, atmosphere, décor, customer service, clientele mix and value for money.

Old Spot, Hill Road, Dursley, Gloucestershire. GL11 4JQ. (01453 542870) (Photo courtesy of CAMRA)

Members of CAMRA from across the UK visited thousands of pubs before deciding on 16 regional winners. Four of these pubs were shortlisted for the national Grand Final and yesterday the overall winner was announced.

The Old Spot Inn is described in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide as “This 100 year old free house, named after the Gloucestershire Old Spot pig, has been sympathetically restored by its owner, Ric Sainty. The intimate atmosphere is enhanced by log fires and brewery memorabilia. As well as Uley's Old Ric, named after the owner, it offers five guest beers, mainly from micro-brewers, served in five separate drinking areas. The wholesome menu is available 12-8pm on week days and 12-3pm at weekends. On the Cotswold Way, this convivial local is a popular watering hole for walkers. The secluded garden has a boules piste.”

Julian Hough, CAMRA's Pubs Director and one of the final judges said, “The Old Spot Inn is a great example of how successful a well-run community pub can be. Steve and Belinda (Herbert) are dedicated to maintaining the local character of the pub within the community and realise that quality real ales are an important factor in offering their local choice at the bar. I would like to congratulate everybody at the Old Spot Inn on being judged Britain's finest pub."

The National Pub of the Year award was presented in the run up to Community Pubs Week which starts today, Saturday 16th February. The aim of this campaign is to encourage more people to visit pubs more regularly at this traditionally quiet time of the year for the pub trade.

National Pub of the Year Runners-Up:

	Turks Head,St Helen's, 49-51 Morley Street, St Helens, Merseyside, WA10 2DQ, (01744 751289) (Photo courtesy of CAMRA)
	Land of Liberty, Peace and Plenty, Long Lane, Heronsgate, Hertfordshire, WD3 5BS. (01923 282226) (Photo courtesy of CAMRA)
	Blue Peter Hotel, Kirkcolm, Dumfries & Galloway. DG9 0NL (01776 853221) (Photo courtesy of CAMRA)

Tony Jerome, CAMRA's Press Manager said, “We are awarding National Pub of the Year in the build up to Community Pubs Week to highlight what we believe makes a pub great. If pubs are to survive in today's competitive leisure industry, then it is important that they become more marketing focused. Licensees need to find out what their locals want, organise events and promote them accordingly. Unfortunately the day has gone when people just visit a pub because it is a pub! Community Pubs Week offers the perfect opportunity for pubs to experiment with organising and promoting events to see what impact these can have on their business.”

Jerome concluded, “The Old Spot Inn scored very highly in all areas of our judging criteria. The Herberts also organise a variety of events and have a superb range of real ales for pub-goers to try - the perfect recipe for a successful pub!”

CAMRA'S Regional Pubs of the Year:

• Central Southern - Rose & Crown, Hawridge, Buckinghamshire - 01494 758944
• Wessex - Plough Inn, Little London, Hampshire - 01256 850628
• South & Mid Wales - Borough Arms, Neath, Glamorgan - 01639 644902
• South West - Old Spot Inn, Dursley, Gloucestershire - 01453 542870
• Surrey & Sussex - White Horse, Maplehurst, West Sussex - 01403 891208
• London - Bricklayers Arms, Putney, London - 020 878 01155
• Kent - The Ship Centurion, Whitstable, Kent - 01227 264740
• East Anglia - Land of Liberty, Peace & Plenty, Heronsgate, Hertfordshire - 01923 282226
• West Midlands - Bell, Pensax, Worcestershire - 01299 896677
• East Midlands - Thorold Arms, Harmston, Lincolnshire - 01522 720358
• Yorkshire - Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield, South Yorkshire - 0114 2722482
• Merseyside, Cheshire & North Wales - Turks Head, St. Helens, Merseyside - 01744 751289
• Greater Manchester - New Oxford, Salford, Greater Manchester - 0161 8327082
• North East - King's Arms, Deptford, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear - 0191 5679804
• West Pennines - Bridge Bier Huis, Burnley, Lancashire - 01282 411304
• Scotland & Northern Ireland - Blue Peter Hotel, Kirkcolm, Dumfries & Galloway - 01776 853221