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Bree And Easy!
It's 'Euston, we have no problem' as the NW1 real ale paradise wins
branch Pub of the Year.
Just after Diversity's 'Britain's Got Talent' triumph and just before
England's Twenty 20 cricket team managed to lose at home to the Netherlands,
branch members and pub regulars crowded into the Bree Louise to witness
a rather less surprising outcome.
The occasion was the presentation of CAMRA North London's Pub of the
Year for 2009, which the Cobourg Street local held off some fierce
competition to win.
Branch chairman John Cryne presented the framed winner's certificate to
governor Craig Douglas after an eloquent speech praising the way Craig
and his wife Karen have transformed the pub - formerly known as the
Jolly Gardeners - since taking it over only a few years ago.
John particularly highlighted the couple's obvious commitment to real
ale, which now sees 16 real ales from all parts of Britain available on
either handpump or gravity at any one time - with discounted prices for
card carrying CAMRA members.
But Craig is not a man to stand still, and his next move is to scale
up the pub's cider offering with plans to have at least five real
ciders on sale.
So it's exciting times at the Bree Louise.
But in congratulating Craig and Karen, let's not forget the other fine
pubs that ran them so close in this year's poll.
Second was Hampstead's Duke of Hamilton, whose recent cider festival
you can read about elsewhere in this issue. Third was Highgate's Prince
of Wales, proving that real ale is alive and well in these two historic
areas of the north of the capital (so alive and well, in fact, we
produced a special beer guide - why not buy one? Ed.). Bringing up
an honourable fourth was the ever popular Three Compasses in Hornsey.
Well done to all the final four. And who knows - with Pub of the Year
rules preventing the reigning champion from standing next time round,
it could be one of their names on this page in 12 months time.
Words: Steve Ducker; Photo: Christine Cryne
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 51.
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