Pub of the Month

"Pub of the Month" is an award presented to the landlord or manager of a public house in the Leicester Branch area in honour of their dedication to real ale. This can be by innovation, returning a pub to "cask ale", introduction of "Guest Beers", consistently high quality beers, sympathetic restoration or any other worthwhile act  that promotes real ale in line with the aims of CAMRA. Despite its name, the award is not allocated each month but only after a pub is nominated by a branch member and approved by a branch meeting. In a similar fashion, there are awards for the Pub of the Year and Club of the Year.

Next Presentation: Wed 17th September. The Windmill, Brascote. Approx 9pm

Pub Of The Month May 2008 - The Western, Leicester On 21st May, a large number of Leicester CAMRA Branch and Committee members were gathered at The Western, 70 Western Road, Leicester. We were presenting Danny Hardwood and Amy Allen with the Leicester CAMRA Pub Of The Month Award, for May 2008. The Western was an Everards tied house, until being leased to The Steamin’ Billy Brewing Company last November. Since then, under the guidance of Barry Lount and Billy Allingham, and managed by Danny and Amy, it has totally changed the pub for the better, now offering a range of Steamin’ Billy Beers (Brewed by Tower Brewery of Burton-Upon-Trent), along with Guest Beers from other breweries. Everards beers too, as they still actually own the pub. Keith presented their award, outlining the importance of supporting your local pub, with 2 pubs a day closing for good, in the UK. Danny and Amy were pleased to receive recognition from Leicester CAMRA. He thanked us for the award and hoped to continue to offer the wide selection of beers and to receive our continued support. K. Williams

Pub Of The Month April 2008 - The Chandlers Arms, Shearsby Our April 2008 "Pub Of The Month" is a pub that may not have survived had it not been for the hard work and dedication of Stephen and Karen Compton. With country pubs closing at an alarming rate it is nice to see the Chandlers doing so well and also supporting LocAle, CAMRAs' push to have local beers in local pubs. We travelled out by minibus to present the award on April 23rd 2008 and were joined by many other CAMRA members who made their own way. When we arrived at the pub as it was St Georges day, it was so busy we had to queue on the steps to get in! The pub was very busy with not only drinkers but diners as well. The pub has an interesting menu and I will make the effort to get back for a meal at some point. On the bar were five beers; Dowbridge Bonum Mild and Acris Bitter along with Black Sheep Ale, Titanic English Glory and Milestone Old Home Wrecker. The beers were in very good condition and sensibly priced considering the extortionate prices being charged in some other establishments. Chairman Keith Williams spoke about CAMRA and how important country pubs are. He thanked Steve for buying the pub in 2006 and turning it round. Keith did say he thought the pub would not have survived otherwise. Steve was slightly lost for words but thanked all the locals present for their support as well as the members from Leicester CAMRA. The evening was completed with a hot pot that was enjoyed by members of Leicester CAMRA. Our thanks go to Steve for his hospitality on the night. It was also noted that the beers were disappearing very rapidly such was the superb condition of them! Andy Sales.

Pub Of The Month February 2008 - The Wheel, Oadby Our February 2008 "Pub Of The Month" is a pub that is thriving in the local community and has introduced a guest beer to compliment the Bass and Pedigree which are always served in top notch condition, we travelled by Arriva Bus No 31 on the Oadby Grange route to The Wheel, 99 London Road, Oadby. The bus stop is literally outside the front door of the pub and Landlord Richard Pettit and his wife Carolyn were there to meet us. There was quite a large group of regulars there on presentation night along with members of Oadby & Wigston Borough Council, including the Mayor. The pub is involved in an enormous amount of sporting activities and even has Poker nights. It was redecorated about a year ago and a smoking ban introduced before the main government ban. Smokers are well catered for with an outside area though. The guest beer for the night was J. W Lees - John Willies 4.5 sitting alongside the regular Bass and Pedigree. Chairman Keith Williams spoke about CAMRA and how important community pubs are. Richard explained how popular the pub is and his commitment to real ale. He was thrilled to bits with the award and said that he would dedicate it to his wife who has been of solid support in the background all the way and his customers. The Mayor then spoke again about the community and said he had not realised how many small independent micro breweries existed. The evening was completed with an enormous buffet that was enjoyed by both customers and members of Leicester CAMRA. Our thanks go to Richard and Carolyn for their hospitality on the night. Andy Sales.

Pub Of The Month September 2007 - The Black Horse, Walcote

For our September 2007 Pub Of The Month, it was a pub with a difference. We travelled to Walcote, just off the M1 junction 20, to meet Andy and Mandy Clipston.

About 4 years ago, The Black Horse was due to close following a successful planning application to convert the pub in to dwellings, something that is sadly quite common of late. Andy, being a regular at The Black Horse and a self-employed builder thought “This can’t happen” so he bought it.

When looking the pub over to asses what work needed to be done, he decided that it would be easier to knock the place down and start again, so in May 2006, he did just that.

By 16^th December, he finally re-opened the pub, a few feet further back from the main A 4304(Formerly A427), but to the same design as the old one with a few modern improvements. It now sells a dozen or more beers, mainly from Independent and Micro-Breweries. The pub is now more popular than ever. Andy and Mandy were presented with their award and thanked Leicester CAMRA for recognising his efforts to save a popular pub from closure and supporting him in his venture as a Publican.

The evening was completed with the Thai curry and rice, which had arrived. Our thanks go to Andy and Mandy Clipston for their hospitality on the night. Thai food is regularly served at the pub. It is only a mile from the M1 Junction 20 and well worth a visit.

K Williams.

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