CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

Press Release

Gloucestershire Pub Voted Best Pub in Britain!

Date: Friday 15 February 2008
Status: For immediate use

Old Spot Inn, Dursley, Gloucestershire is voted ‘National Pub of the Year' by CAMRA in run up to Community Pubs Week (16-23 February 2008)

Presentation: Friday 15th February 2008 at 12.30pm

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, today announced that the Old Spot in Dursley, Gloucestershire, has won the prestigious ‘National Pub of the Year' title.

The National Pub of the Year competition analyses all the criteria that makes a good pub including the quality of the beer, atmosphere, décor, customer service, clientele mix and value for money. The award will be presented to the pub on Friday 15th February in the build up to Community Pubs Week which starts on Saturday 16th February.

The Old Spot Inn is described in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 2008 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 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."

Steve Herbert, licensee of the Old Spot Inn said, “I am overwhelmed at winning the National Pub of the Year award. To be judged the best pub in Britain is a dream come true. Belinda and I would like to thank all the staff for their hard work over the last year, and the locals for their loyalty to the Old Spot Inn. Without them this wouldn't be possible. “

Mr Herbert continued, “Being born and bred in Dursley means a lot to me and to be able to bring this award to this wonderful pub gives me a great sense of achievement.”

Ric and Ellie Sainty, owners of the Old Spot Inn, began the transformation in 1993 when they bought the run-down Whitbred pub, then called the Fox & Hounds and turned it into a local pub where people from all walks of life could feel at home and enjoy a superb pint in very friendly and convivial surroundings. Ric and Ellie retired in 2001 and Steve and Belinda Herbert took over as licensees and have built on Ric and Ellie's success.

The National Pub of the Year award will be presented in the run up to Community Pubs Week which starts on 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.

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!”

The presentation of the National Pub of the Year award will take place at the Old Spot Inn, Hill Road, Gloucestershire, GL11 4JQ at 12.30pm on Friday 15th February. If you would like to join us then please call Tony Jerome on 01727 867201 / 07736948186 or email him at tony.jerome@camra.org.uk

National Pub of the Year Runners-Up:

• Blue Peter Hotel, Kirkcolm, Dumfries & Galloway - 01776 853221
• Land of Liberty, Peace & Plenty, Heronsgate, Hertfordshire - 01923 282226
• Turks Head, St Helens, Merseyside - 01744 751289

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

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• CAMRA's National Pub of the Year competition is judged by the CAMRA membership. Each of the 200 branches vote for their favourite pub. The branch winners are entered into 16 regional competitions and then the 16 winners battle it out to make the Grand Final which consists of 4 pubs.
• For more information please visit the Community Pubs Week - www.pubsweek.org

NOTE FOR PICTURE DESKS:

• Please email Tony Jerome at tony.jerome@camra.org.uk if you are interested in receiving pictures of the Old Spot Inn.

For more information:

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale
230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4LW