Barnsley’s Old No 7 pub has been proclaimed Yorkshire Pub of the Year by members of Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) – only two years after opening.
The news was revealed to coincide with the release of the Good Beer Guide 2014, published by Camra. Now the Market Hill pub will be judged among 16 regional winners as finalists in Camra’s National Pub of the Year awards, to be announced in early 2014.
Camra says of the Old No 7: “The jewel in the crown of Barnsley town centre’s burgeoning real ale scene. This Acorn Brewery owned bar boasts seven real ales and one cider/perry, all on handpump. Two further ciders/perries are usually found behind the bar, plus an extensive range of quality foreign beers. The attentive staff and well-run bar attract a broad clientele including circuit drinkers, football fans and beer connoisseurs, who are all made equally welcome.”
This latest accolade follows the Old No 7 being named Yorkshire Regional Cider Pub of the Year earlier this year – which recognised the variety of ciders and perries on offer at the celebrated cask ale pub.
The non-food pub was re-launched as a ‘haven’ for quality cask ale and cider only in 2011. One of the town’s most historic buildings it was rescued from closure by Acorn Brewery founders Dave and Judi Hughes together with partners Michael and Angie Thorpe.
Dave Hughes said: “This is fantastic news. We took a big chance to invest in this pub when it had been abandoned by a national pub company and many other pubs were closing their doors. This accolade justifies all the blood, sweat and tears we endured to open the pub in what was really a cask ale desert at the time.
“Camra figures shows that more than 20 pubs are still closing every week. Our success proves that more people, both men and women, want to enjoy quality beers with provenance in a convivial atmosphere. It is a terrific compliment to the pub manager Fiona Holmes and all the team who have done a tremendous job. ”
The National Pub of the Year competition judges pubs on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix, and, most importantly, quality of beer.
The GBG points to the growing trend for more young people and females turning to cask ale as a drink of choice. Camra statistics show the amount of women trying real ale is also up, from 14% to 34% in the last three years, showing that wider availability and variety of beers is having a positive effect on the number of women giving real ale a go in the pub. Ends/Acorn PR Old No 7 voted Yorkshire Pub of the Year
Notes to editor:
The award comes in the 10th anniversary year of Acorn Brewery, which was launched on July 4 2003 by Dave and Judi Hughes with the award winning Barnsley Bitter as the first brew.
Since then the brewery has won more than 50 awards for its cask-conditioned ales and expanded to a 20 brewer’s barrel plant. Last year also saw a further £60,000 investment in new conditioning tanks, stainless steel casks and cooling equipment to boost capacity to 150 brewer’s barrels-a- week (a brewer’s barrel is 288 pints).
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