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Press Release
Released: Friday 28th November
For immediate release

CAMRA announces four finalists in National Pub of the Year competition

Pubs from Kent, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Gloucestershire to fight it out to be crowned Britain’s best pub

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has today announced the four pubs in the final of their National Pub of the Year competition – one of which will be crowned the overall winner early next year.
The Freshfield in Formby (Merseyside), The Harewood Arms in Broadbottom (Greater Manchester) The Salutation Inn in Ham (Gloucestershire) and The Windmill in Sevenoaks Weald (Kent) have won their local and regional competitions before being selected as the final four from a list of sixteen regional winners.
“Each of these four fantastic pubs are already winners in their own right and really are well worth a visit from any ale-lovers who find themselves in the area. They will now go forward to fight it out for the overall National Pub of the Year, which will be announced in February next year.” Gary Chester, competition organiser.
Last year’s winner was The Swan with Two Necks in Pendleton, a cosy, village-centre pub that proved a huge hit with locals and visitors alike – as well as impressing the competition judges of course.
The competition looks for a number of things in winning pubs - decor, atmosphere, value for money -  but it is the quality of the beer that is always most important. In fact, last year’s winning landlord Steve Dilworth said at the time he believed it was his close relationship to the beer in his cellar that helped them win, saying “Talking to the barrels has finally paid off!".
The Four Finalists
The Windmill 
Kent Region
1 Windmill Road, Sevenoaks Weald, Sevenoaks, TN14 6PN
“We are hugely honoured to receive this award. The main focus of our business is great quality cask beer, focussing on locally produced ales but also offering guest beers too. We think it’s important to offer a true range, with dark beers such as porters and stouts, tawny beers such as best bitters, as well pale ales, IPAs and Golden Ales. The staff are really proud of the cask beer we serve.” Matthew Rudd, Landlord of The Windmill.
The Windmill offers an excellent selection of five to six top-notch ales, three Kentish ciders, and continental draught lagers, together with a comprehensive menu and basket meals (no food Sun eve). The homely interior features wooden settles, a log-burning stove, etched windows, porcelain and pub memorabilia, while a quiet, colourful garden is available for warmer times.
The Freshfield
Merseyside & Cheshire Region
1a Massams Lane, Freshfield, Formby, L37 7EU
“When we first heard the pub had reached the final 16 for the second year running, we were astonished. To learn we have now reached the final four is a dream come true. I am so proud of my team and everything they have helped us to achieve. They constantly deliver and exceed our customers’ expectations. I am not sure how we will celebrate if we win Pub of the Year, but we will definitely be toasting this latest news with a glass of real ale!” The Freshfield manager, Simon Cox
A great example of a community local where the emphasis is on beer quality. A Greene King pub, it offers up to 14 ales including 10 guests. The pub also has a growing reputation for good food served in the restaurant. Following a successful CAMRA-led campaign, the stone floored area has been retained. Families are welcome and an enlightened management with engaging staff help to ensure a welcoming experience.
The Harewood Arms
Greater Manchester Region
2 Market Street, Broadbottom, SK14 6AX
“It’s awesome to win but I can’t just take credit myself as this is a family effort with my wife and son also running the pub with me. We bought the pub from Enterprise and have put lots of effort in to improve the beer on offer and give the pub its character back.” Philip Wild, Landlord of The Harewood Arms.
Taken over in 2013, the Green Mill brewery has moved from Rochdale to the cellar of The Harewood Arms and the pub is now essentially a brewery tap. A range of continental bottled beers and a guest handpull cider complement the Green Mill beers. This large open-plan community pub is warmed by open fires, helping to create a friendly atmosphere. There is a pool table and elevated darts area to the rear.
The Salutation Inn
South West
Ham, Berkley, Gloucestershire, GL13 9QH
“It’s incredible [to be named in the final four]. My wife Claire and I have never run a pub before and have only ran The Salutation Inn for 18 months so to be in the final four is overwhelming. Our passionate staff and great regulars really do make this pub what it is.” Peter Tiley, Landlord of The Salutation Inn.      
This rural gem is in the Severn Valley, within walking distance of the Jenner Museum, Berkley Castle and Deer Park. The enthusiastic landlord keeps an inspired selection of ales and eight real ciders and perries. The pub has two cosy bars with a log fire and a skittles alley.


COPY ENDS

Sunderland Octoberfest 2014

Beer List:

	Brewery	Location	Beer	ABV	Tasting Notes
1	Binghams	Ruscombe, Berks.	Space Hoppy IPA	5.0%	A pale golden ale and the hops impart a citrus flavour to make this beer hugely refreshing.
2	Brewlab
3	Burton Bridge	Burton upon Trent, Staffs.	Bramble Stout	5.0%	A traditional stout with a mellow flavour and just a hint of blackberry in the aftertaste.
4	Bushys	Douglas, Isle of Man.	Ruby 1874 Mild	3.5%	An authentic 100% malt brewed mild with a fine aroma of crystal malt and fuggles and challenger hops. Deep red in colour, the flavour is well balanced creating a popular session beer.
5	Downton	Salisbury, Wiltshire	Quadhop	3.9%	As the name implies, this is a beer brewed using four varieties of hops :- East Kent Goldings, Pioneer, Challenger, Styrian Goldings. A golden coloured beer with the full range of hop flavours and aromas.
6	Freeminer	Cinderford, Gloucs.	Honey Dipper	4.6%	A clean tasting and well hopped beer brewed with 'Fairtrade' honey, to give a crisp clean bitterness and a complex aftertaste.
7	Grafton	Worksop, Notts.	Silhouette	4.0%	A pale yellow coloured ale which is brewed with vanilla pods. Easy drinking and refreshing.
8	Green Jack	Lowestoft, Suffolk.	Orange Wheat	4.2%	Light, with grainy citrus & marmalade flavours. This delightfully drinkable Wheat Beer is enjoyed by men and women alike. Now brewed with Citra Hops!
9	Highland	Orkney.	Orkney Blast	6.0%	A stunning stronger ale in the true British fashion, with balanced flavours from maris otter malt and English hops added early and late in the copper. One to take great care with as it is so drinkable.
10	Ilkley	Ilkley, West Yorks.	Rye n Dry	5.0%	Roggenbier
11	Jarrow	Jarrow, Tyne & Wear.	McConnell's Stout	4.6%	In 1932 Patrick McConnell left Ireland looking for employment.  He found work at Palmers Shipyard in Jarrow and lived the rest of his life at Jarrow on Tyneside.  Today his grandson brews an Irish Stout he would be proud of.  A rich creamy stout, with a l
12	Jarrow	Jarrow, Tyne & Wear.	Isis	5.0%	A well balanced golden premium ale with a full hop aroma and grapefruit presence on the palate.
13	Kent	Birling, Kent.	Enigma	5.5%	A highly hopped dark ale with a soft malt body and a balance finish. A black IPA, that's the engima!
14	Kelburn	Glasgow.	Red Smiddy	4.1%	Red Smiddy is a smooth, dry ale with a unique spicy aroma and flavour. Its reddish hue, warm glow and tight head gives it a presence that makes it stand out.
15	Little Valley	Hebden Bridge, W. Yorks.	Ginger Pale Ale	4.0%	Light and fresh with a hint of ginger and citrus. Ginger Pale Ale is approved by the Fairtrade Foundation.
16	Loch Ness	Drumnadrochit, Invernessshire.	Hoppy Ness	5.0%	A golden hoppy beer made with maris otter pale Ale and malted wheat. Hopped with Admiral, Columbus, Citra and Williamette. Hugely hoppy beer with a little sweetness in the background.
17	Maxim	Houghton Le Spring	Simcoe Kid	4.2	A light golden ale with a citrussy bitterness from the 7 Cs hops and an interesting fruity burst of aromas including passion fruit, lemon and grapefruit from the Simcoe hops
18	Maxim	Houghton Le Spring	Swedish Blonde	4.2%	Named after Maxim Breweries own Anna Goransdotter – Bell, this smooth blonde beer is very light in colour and uses cascade and first gold hops to give refreshing hoppy and complex grapefruit flavours on the palate.
19	Maxim	Houghton Le Spring	Maximus	6.0%	A strong and warming beer that is also smooth and easy to drink, dark ruby in colour, Maximus is described as smooth, sweet, with a hint of liquorice.
20	Saltaire	Shipley, West Yorkshire.	Raspberry Blonde	4.0%	A refreshing blonde ale infused with a hint of raspberries.
21	Skye	Uig, Isle of Skye.	Black Cuillin	4.5%	A distinctive dark ale brewed with roast barley and rolled roast Scottish oatmeal giving an almost stout-like bitterness, smoothed with the addition of pure Scottish heather honey.
22	Stewart	Edinburgh, Lothian	Pentland IPA	4.1%	A golden dry abv, with a slight fruit tones and a moderate bitterness. Fresh hop and added to contribute a more complex character, resulting in an easy to drink ale that offers refreshment with a little extra spice.
23	Stewart	Edinburgh, Lothian	Edinburgh No 3	4.3%	A full-bodied cask ale, with an intense colour, rich malty taste and a clean finish. Brewed using 4 types of malt, including generous portions of black and crystal, subtly balanced using only a small amount of the finest hops.
24	Strathaven	Strathaven, Lannarkshire.	Old Mortality 80/-	4.2%	A blend of five different types of malt gives this chestnut coloured ale a rich dried fruit flavour which is beautifully offset by spicy American hops.
25	Temptation	Houghton le SPring	Sorachi Ale	4.6
26	Tryst	Falkirk, Fife	Transatlantic Hop Trials	3.90%	A continual series of hop trial beers. Each beer will have the same light malt base, be the same strength and will feature a different American aroma hop in each trial.
27	Titanic	Burslem on Trent, Staffs.	Plum Porter	4.9%	This beer is dark, strong and well rounded; the richness of such a rotund beer is brought to an even keel by the late addition of Goldings hops and natural plum flavouring.
28	Tyne Bank	Newcastle upon Tyne	Barrel of Monkeys	6.9	Collaboration between Tyne Bank and Hand Drawn Monkey of Huddersfield. Due to the high strength, sold in third pint measure
29	Williams Bros.	Alloa, Clacks.	Fraoch	4.1%	Brewed with malted barley and heather flower tips to create a multi-award winning beer.  A light amber ale with a floral/peaty aroma, full malt character, a spicy herbal flavour and a dry, wine-like finish.

Cider & Perries List:

All from Barbourne Cider
Maker - Richard Reynolds
http://www.barbournecider.co.uk/
 
Ciders
Golden Drop – Medium – 5%
Crimson King – Medium / Dry – 6%
Sweet Kernel – Sweet  - 4.5%
Worcestershire Cider – Dry – 6.3%
 
Perries
Painted Lady – Medium / Sweet – 5%
Blakeney Red – Medium – 6.5%

Sunderland & South Tyneside Pub of the Year 2014:

1st: The Isis, Sunderland.

2nd: The Steamboat, South Shields.

3rd: Fitzgeralds, Sunderland.
  
{Picture of Isis supplied by Jarrow Brewery}

Sunderland & South Tyneside Club of the Year 2014:

1st: Mid Boldon Club, Boldon.

2nd: Ashbrooke Sports Club, Sunderland.

The branch offers its congratulations to all five venues for the work they have put in & for serving quality real ales throughout the year.

The full results list this year is:
Position     Pub    (Position in 2013/2012:)

1st: The Isis, Sunderland. (1/-)

2nd: The Steamboat, South Shields. (2/2)

3rd: Fitzgeralds, Sunderland. (3/1)

4th: The Alum Ale House, South Shields. (4/5)

5th: The Maltings, South Shields. (5/3)

6th  The William Jameson, Sunderland. (12/-)

7th  The Harbour View Sunderland. (-/-)

8th: The Courtyard, Washington. (6/6)

9th: The William De Wessington, Washington. (8/9)

10th: The Kings Arms, Sunderland. (6/4)

11th: The Museum Vaults, Sunderland. (10/12)

12th The Wouldhave, South Shields (-/-)

Again well done to all on the list, with over 100 venues in the branch area serving real ales it is an achievement to appear anywhere on these lists. 

All Sunderland & South Tyneside members: 

The Pub & Club of the year ballot papers are in the post, if you don't get one let us know asap so it can be sorted. 

 

Please, please use your vote & thus have your say in selecting our Pub & Club of the Year 2014! 

(Lets try & beat last year when about 40% of the ballot was returned.) 

- Returned papers must be in the Secretary's hands by Saturday 1st Feb....so do it NOW! 

• The vote for PotY is from the 22 pubs listed on the ballot....These are the 22 pubs we put in the 2013 edition of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. 
• The vote for CotY is a free vote, choose upto 3 Clubs in the branch area that serve real ale &/or real cider.

Also:

Selection of Pubs for our entries into the 2014 edition of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide are underway. 

I can't reveal the list on a public forum, (branch members who missed Tuesday's meeting in Fitzgeralds can find out from the latest set of branch meeting minutes, once they are written up!)

What I can say is that we have been allocated 22 entries in the 2014 Guide & the list of 22 that we are currently reviewing were selected from the NBSS scores made by CAMRA members during 2013.

In 2013 a total of 1923 surveys were carried out in 84 pubs in the branch area, so well done to all who took part & all CAMRA members, including those visiting our branch area are encouraged to have there say & score pubs. Remember NBSS scores can now be entered through WhatPub at:  http://whatpub.com/login