Presentation: Monday June 29th, 12pm, at Princess Louise, High Holborn, London (WC1V 7BW)
 Pub Design Awards 2008 Photo Gallery
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has today announced the winners of the prestigious Pub Design Awards 2008, in association with English Heritage and the Victorian Society.
In the Awards this year 4 pubs were singled out by the judges. In the 'Refurbished' category, the Princess Louise, High Holborn, London was a joint winner with the Castle Inn, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. Meanwhile, the White Horse, Overton on Dee, Wrexham, was 'Highly Commended' in the category for its outstanding work. In the 'New Build' category, Zero Degrees, Reading, Berkshire, was the overall winner.
CAMRA's Pub Design Awards began in 1983, and over the years has remained dedicated to championing pubs showing vision, imagination and a level of restraint in their design.
Dr Steven Parissien, an architectural historian, author, and one of the competition judges, said:
'Amidst the gloom and doom of Recessional Britain, this past year has, reassuringly, seen a number of first-rate pub schemes, all of which illustrate how pubs can, and should, be treated.'
Joint winners - Princess Louise, High Holborn, London (WC1V 7BW) and Castle Inn, Bradford on Avon, Wilts (BA15 1SJ)
Highly Commended - White Horse, Overton on Dee, Wrexham (LL13 0DT)
In regard to the Princess Louise, the judges said:
'This renowned Sam Smith's pub has undergone a comprehensive redesign which has seen the reintroduction of the original, multi-bar layout, complete with bar doors and snob screens. This has made what was already an interesting and worthy pub even more of a pubgoers' icon. After a six-month closure, this celebrated landmark has reopened in a guise which reflects both its incarnation of over a century ago and the modern customer's wish to drink and chat in a cosy, quiet and private environment. This is one instance in which gilding the lily can actually improve the subject.'
Praising the other winner, the Castle Inn, the judges said:
'Here owners Flatcappers have retained this handsome Georgian pub's historic features while gearing the interior to its inevitably upmarket and food-oriented clientele. The Castle shows that you don't have to shed pub identity in order to maximise the opportunities to eat. Even the iron railings outside the pub have won a civic award, a success which demonstrates the great attention to detail at this hilltop site.'
For the efforts of the team at Joules Brewery, the White Horse was 'Highly Commended' in the category. The judges said:
'This was a run-down town-centre hotel which appeared ripe for redevelopment for residential or retail use. Instead, it's been saved in a manner that's spirited and individual. The enthusiastic provision of bright new stained glass, pristine wooden partitions and salvaged fireplaces is at times a bit over-eager, and occasionally the new elements compete rather than blend. But the original plan form has been largely retained, and a fine building, very much at Overton's cultural as well as geographical heart, has been successfully revitalised.'
Winner - Zero Degrees, Reading (RG1 2LR)
Hailing the innovative build of Zero Degrees, the judges said:
'Zero Degrees is a strikingly modern, glass-fronted design which, like its three sisters elsewhere in the UK (Blackheath, Bristol and Cardiff), makes an architectural virtue of its in-house brewing equipment. Throughout the building, the industrial aesthetic, as prominently defined by the brightly-polished brewing plant, predominates but does not overwhelm. This design shows that a pub can be successfully reinterpreted in a modern manner that does not resonate to the jingle of horse-brasses or the creak of fakery.'
Unfortunately due to the discretion of the judges, no awards were presented this year in the English Heritage Conservation Award, Conversion to Pub Use, or CAMRA's Joe Goodwin Award categories.
The judges agreed that the lack of strong entries in this year's competition was a worrying reflection of the 'narrow, short-term outlook' so often adopted at a time of economic downturn.
However, Julian Hough, CAMRA Pubs Director, remained upbeat about the future of British pubs, and maintained there will be plenty of innovation and flair in the pub industry for years to come. He said:
'It's wonderful to see people invest in pubs and believe wholeheartedly in their future. These winners are successful community pubs, and we must do everything we can in order to support them. CAMRA is delighted to reward these pubs for their achievements, both aesthetically and commercially, and we hope other pub owners can take inspiration from these buildings.'
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The Pub Design Awards 2008 presentation is taking place on Monday June 29th, 12pm, at the Princess Louise, High, Holborn, London (WC1V 7BW). Members of the press are welcomed at the event- there will be photo and interview opportunities available. If you wish to attend, please contact Jon Howard, CAMRA Press Officer, on 01727 798443, or jon.howard@camra.org.uk
The Pub Design Awards 2008 categories:
New Build Pub: This category is for entirely new built pubs. The judges look for style and originality in addition to the pub fitting in well within its surroundings.
Conversion to Pub Use: This is where an existing building is converted to pub use. Pubs are judged on the taste and restraint used on both the outside and inside of the pub.
Refurbished Pub: Refurbishment can range from a complete gutting and replacement to an enhancement of what was originally there. Refurbishment should suit the individual pub and not be an excuse to use uniform furnishings to brand the pub with brewery or pub companies image.
CAMRA / English Heritage Conservation award: This award, sponsored by English Heritage, is usually given for work which conserves what is good in the pub to ensure its future for generations of customers.
In addition the Joe Goodwin Award - named after late CAMRA chair Joe Goodwin - is reserved for outstanding refurbished street-corner locals.
Nominations for the Pub Design Awards are made by members of the public. Work had to be carried out and completed in 2007, with judging taking place throughout 2008-2009.
For further information:
CAMRA Press Office, 01727 798443
Pierre Woodford (on behalf of Castle Inn, Wilts), 07703 570228
Steve Nuttall (On behalf of White Horse, Overton on Dee), 07730 979276
Dipam Patel (On behalf of Zero Degrees, Reading), 07768 113932
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