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"Pub of the
Year" is a special annual award presented to the landlord or
manager of a public house in the Leicester Branch area in
honour of the quality of their beer, service and general
attitude towards real ale. The winning pubs are those
nominated and voted for by a majority of local CAMRA members
by postal ballot.
Members vote
for their three favourite pubs in the Leicester Branch area.
The highest scoring pub becomes “Pub of the Year” with the
highest scoring City and County pubs then becoming the area
category winners.
Winner
The Criterion, Millstone Lane, LE1 5JN
Second Vin Quatre,
King St, LE1 6RL
Third The Chandlers Arms, Fenny
Lane, Shearsby LE17 6PL
The Criterion,
“City Pub of the Year 2006” and “Pub of the Year 2007 and
2008” has become “Pub of the Year 2009”. Well done to
Russell Hunt, Karen Foster and their team for winning this
award for the third year running as voted for by members of
the Leicester Branch of CAMRA.
Over 900
members are entitled to vote and The Criterion came out with
the most number of votes. Clearly a continuing sign of the
high regard held for the pub and team by those members who
returned their votes. As recently as 2002, The Criterion was
called The Nags Head when purchased from Hardys & Hansons. A
change of name and the stocking of some quality British real
ales as well as a selection of other beers from all over the
world completely changed the profile of this pub.
Now owned by
Rugby Brewery, it has a reputation for stocking real ales
from micro-breweries and is part of LocAle. The pub has
knowledgeable staff, regular quizzes, beer festivals and
music sessions. Food is served too, really wonderful,
authentic Italian pizzas heading the menu, but other items
are also available. This all goes to show why The Criterion
has retained “Pub of the Year 2009”. Well done.
Runner up is
Vin Quatre, formerly Out of the Vaults. This pub is now in
its fifth year under the ownership of Paul Summers and
Daksha Patel and recently joined by Cathal Farragher. Up to
12 real ales are served including LocAles. It has regular
beer festivals attracting a following of beer enthusiasts
from all over the UK and regular music sessions.
The Chandlers
Arms, Fenny Lane, Shearsby is a pub that is totally committed to Real Ale and was the
first to join our LocAle campaign. It has been gaining a
reputation for really good quality beer and food since being
taken over by Stephen and Karen Compton in 2006 and has now
been rewarded with the title “County
Pub of the Year 2009”. This fantastic pub is situated in the
village of Shearsby and
serves up to 7 beers. It is good to see this pub flying the
flag for real ale in the county and fully deserved.
This award has prompted Stephen to hold
his first beer festival on July 10 - 11th.
Leicester CAMRA
congratulates all the winners and hopes that this level of
quality can continue in the Leicester area.
The top ten this
year were as follows:-
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