Pellicle, the reader-supported, independent drinks magazine had reason to celebrate this week, with six of its contributors picking up seven awards at the annual British Guild of Beer Writers Awards ceremony.
In the build-up to the competition, nine of the online magazine’s contributors had been nominated for 11 pieces of work across six categories. One of whom was Pellicle associate editor Lily Waite – a previous Beer Writer of The Year winner – who won gold in the ‘Best Commissioned Beer Writing’ category, for a moving piece on her experience of pubs as a sanctuary as a trans woman. It was the only piece Waite entered in this year’s competition, so to pick up the prize was hugely significant to both her as a writer, and to the magazine as a whole.
“I’m so thrilled to have won this year. I entered the only piece I found time to write, so to win the category Best Commissioned Beer Writing is a huge honour,” Waite said. “To win for a piece that meant a great deal, in a hotly-contested category of many extremely talented writers, is extra special.”
This year’s grand prize was claimed by David Jesudason, a prolific Pellicle contributor, who, in addition to deservedly picking up gold for his landmark book Desi Pubs, also won the top prize in the ‘Best Writing About Pubs’ category. One of the pieces he entered in this category was a long-form piece of reportage that analysed the connection between the desi pubs of West Bromwich and Smethwick, and their connection to both the local football team, and its surrounding community. The article was also accompanied by images shot by local photographer Jack Spicer Adams.
“Pellicle gave me the opportunity to write my first ever beer article so it feels like we’ve been on this entire journey together hand-in-hand,” Jesudason said. “The win is huge for the desi community and, finally, our stories are getting the recognition they deserve. Without the award, and logically without Pellicle, we wouldn’t have had this platform.”
The full list of Pellicle’s winners, and the features they entered in each category is as follows:
Emmie Harrison West:
GOLD Best Writing About Diversity: Sound The Alarm — Why Aren’t British Breweries Listening to the Sound of Brave Noise?
GOLD Best Newcomer: Hear For A Good Time — The Sound of Hearing Loss When It Comes To Ordering A Pint
David Jesudason:
GOLD Best Writing About Pubs: Please Don’t Take Me Home — How Black Country Desi Pub Culture Made Football More Diverse
Lily Waite:
GOLD Best Commissioned Beer Writing: God Bless Your Transsexual Heart — The Pub As An Unlikely Sanctuary
Adam Wells:
GOLD Best Writing About Cider: Some Stones From Underneath — Eve’s Cidery in Van Etten, New York
Mark Dredge:
SILVER Best Writing About Sustainability: Soil To The Sun — Long Man Brewery’s Regenerative Agriculture in Litlington, East Sussex
Such Great Heights — Ascension Cider in Etchingham, East Sussex
Rachel Hendry:
SILVER Best Writing About Pubs: Cut To The Feeling — The Anatomy of Smith’s Scampi Fries
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Notes for editors: Pellicle is an independent drinks magazine and podcast founded in 2019 by writer Matthew Curtis and brewer Jonathan Hamilton. Curtis currently serves as editor-in-chief, and is supported by associate editors Katie Mather and Lily Waite. The magazine is free to read, but is funded via reader subscriptions through the Patreon platform, and thanks to sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. To subscribe to Pellicle please visit patreon.com/pelliclemag. Media enquiries can be directly emailed to matthew@pelliclemag.com.
Media enquiries can be directly emailed to matthew@pelliclemag.com.
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