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Pub of the Year - A Dead Heat
During the Summer, North London CAMRA awarded its Pub of the Year award as usual. However, this year's vote by branch members resulted in a draw, so it was decided to award the accolade jointly for 2004, the first time that this has happened. Both establishments were so good, it was thought that it would have beer unfair to separate them.
Therefore, the Calthorpe Arms in WC1 received the award for the second time and the Wenlock Arms, N1 took its tally to two brace!
Pictured (top right) are Will Williams and Steve Barnes, owners of the Wenlock Arms, proudly displaying their fourth Pub of the Year certificate, to add to their collection from 1995, 1996 and 2000. Ten years old this year, the Wenlock goes from strength to strength and is often described as North London's premier real ale outlet. Apart from being one of the few outlets to stock Pitfield beers from the local Hoxton brewery (see article by Keith Mapstone on page 7), the pub now features regular autumn beer festivals in collaboration with the North London CAMRA branch. At least six hand pumped beers are usually available including a good range of draught and bottled overseas beers, plus real cider or perry.
The Calthorpe Arms last received the award in 1998. Pictured (right) is publican Adrian Larner (left) and his wife Tessa, with Branch Committee member Edgar Belka. Adrian is one of Young's longest-serving managers and with Tessa runs the popular community local in Gray's Inn Road, in the very heart of London's Bloomsbury legal and business area.
Congratulations from the branch to both venues for their continuing dedication to the cause of real ale.
Gary White
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 28.
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