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Abercolwyn Area
Awards 2008/2010
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The Abercolwyn Branch of CAMRA
has just announced that its award for LocAle Pub of the
Year 2010 has gone to Lynnette & Cherie
Oliver and Darren Roberts of the Holland Arms, Trofarth
near Abergele. So, what exactly is LocAle? Well, it’s a CAMRA
initiative to promote Local Ale breweries in North Wales. The aim
to ask local pubs to sell beers from local breweries thus reducing
the ‘beer miles’ that the beer has to travel from the brewery to
the pub and thus helping to tackle the ‘green’ issue. The hope is
also to boost local businesses (both the breweries and the pubs)
and also to make these beers available to the public. Currently
there are 24 pubs who have signed up to this scheme and these can
be found here. Each year we single out
one pub which has shown special dedication to the cause of LocAle.
The Holland Arms has been promoting four of the local breweries:
Conwy Brewery, Great Orme Brewery of Glan Conwy, Purple Moose
Brewery of Porthmadog and Bragdy’r Nant from Llanrwst. Beers
available on the night of the presentation were Conwy Beachcomber
Blonde, Orme from Great Orme, Nant Cwrw Coryn and Purple Moose
Fleetwing 1874. Presenting the award Abercolwyn CAMRA chairman Ian
Saunders commended the Holland Arms for promoting the local
breweries and for presenting their beers in excellent condition.
Accepting the award Lynnette, Cherie and Darren said that they are
very keen to help promote and support local businesses and that as
well as their beer all the ingredients for the food on their menu
is sourced locally too! |
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Pictured are
Lynnette Oliver and Darren Roberts |
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Colwyn Bay Cricket Club, Rhos-on-Sea is Abercolwyn CAMRA's Club
of the Year 2010
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The Abercolwyn
branch of CAMRA unveiled its Club of the Year 2010 over
the Bank Holiday weekend. Colwyn Bay Cricket Club in
Rhos-on-Sea was celebrating this accolade for the second
year running and third time in total by running its second
annual beer festival. Eighteen different real ales (including
three different milds and a stout) and two real ciders were
available. The event also included barbeques, a live band on the
Sunday night and some excellent cricket. Abercolwyn CAMRA
Chairman presented the award to club steward Stuart
Chapman-Edwards and explained the club had won the award by
providing its members with excellent quality real ale all year
round. The bar always features four real ales including Tetley
Dark Mild and Bitter and two guest ales. On the festival itself,
Ian praised Stuart and club for having some mild beers on offer
as CAMRA have been trying the promote mild during the month of
May. He also said that it was commendable that the festival
featured beers from local breweries such as Conwy, Great Orme
and Bragdy’r Nant from Llanrwst, plus a Welsh cider. Stuart and
the rest of the committee were thrilled to receive the award and
Stuart said that the weekend had been a great success for the
club.
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The picture
features (l-r) Mark Hartley, Stuart Chapman-Edwards and Ian
Saunders
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The Sun,
Old Colwyn is Abercolwyn CAMRA’s Mild Pub of the Year 2010 |
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Each year in May the
Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) celebrates and promotes the drink of
mild ale. Although fewer pubs are selling it these days there are
still several to choose from in the area. Mild is a unique style
of beer, it is normally made with darker malts making is darker in
colour and normally weaker in alcohol by volume (ABV) and
therefore usually a bit cheaper than other beers. The taster is
often milder too with chocolate or liquorice flavours in evidence.
Every year the Abercolwyn branch of CAMRA presents an award to the
pub which has shown the most commitment to this beer style. The
award this year has gone to the Sun in Old Colwyn.
This pub has a history of selling mild for a number of years.
Shaun and Sandra Clay have been at the Sun for 12 months now and
have continued to sell mild in form of Theakston Traditional Mild,
a 3.5% ABV beer from Masham in North Yorkshire. On the evening of
the presentation the guest beer available was Dark Side of the
Moose (4.6% ABV) from Purple Moose brewery in Porthmadog. Dark
Side is another dark beer that falls into the category of Strong
Mild/Old Ale, it has the same malty and chocolatey notes of a mild
beer. Shaun and Sandra were extremely pleased with their accolade
and as a special thanks to their customers; both mild beers were
on special offer for the night and a great night it was too! |
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Picture
(l-r) are Sun Licensees Sandra and Shaun with their award |
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The Penrhyn Arms Penrhynside
is Abercolwyn CAMRA
Cider
and Perry Pub of the Year 2010
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The
Penrhyn Arms in Penrhynside has earned the title
of Cider & Perry Pub of the Year for the 5th
year in a row making it the best pub in the
county of Conwy for these most natural of alcoholic
products. During that five year reign the Arms
has proved also to be the best cider pub in
Wales and amongst the top four in the UK. Last
year they picked the awards for Best Cider Pub
in Wales and Finalist in the National competition.
Licensee John Sumbland says that he likes to
concentrate on Welsh ciders and if possible
those from North Wales. On the night of the
presentation there were four ciders from Rosie’s
Triple D of Llandegla, near Wrexham, a perry
from Gwynt y Ddraig in Pontypridd and Moles
Black Rat Cider from the more traditional cider-maker
area of Somerset. As well as great ciders the
Penrhyn Arms sells a great range of up to six
real ales and on the award presentation night
there was some great food available all cooked
in cider: roast pork, honey roast ham and Bara
Brith. So, despite the Government putting duty
up by 10% above the rate of inflation, everyone
in attendance managed to have a great night
out on cider and perry! |
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The picture
shows licensee John Sumbland (left) being
presented with the Cider & Perry Pub of the Year
2010 award by Abercolwyn CAMRA chairman Ian
Saunders |
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Pen-y-Bryn,
Colwyn Bay is Abercolwyn CAMRA Food Pub of the Year 2010
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Every year the Abercolwyn branch
of CAMRA tries to find the pub that has the best
combination of real ale and food. This year’s award has gone
to the Pen-y-Bryn in Upper Colwyn Bay. They recently held a
ten-day Pie & Ale week. The superb range of pies included
traditional pies such as Cheese & Onion, Steak & Kidney,
Chicken, Leek & Mushroom, Shepherd’s Pie and Fish Pie; the
more unusual one included Chilli Beef, Rabbit & Crab and Lamb
Wellington. There were also starter pies like Pork, Bacon &
Egg and even sweet pies like Lemon Meringue, Banoffee and
Chocolate & Pecan Pie. Chef Andrew Grant served approximately
2,000 pies during the ten day event which also included a beer
festival where 20 different beers were featured including
Thornbridge Jaipur IPA, Roosters Celtic Corker and Purple
Moose Dark Side of the Moose.
Last year the pub held a similar
event with Sausages and Ale being the theme. It was so
successful they have decided to make it annual event.
CAMRA chairman Ian Saunders
commended the pub in promoting not only good food prepared
with local ingredients but also for serving a variety of great
real ales – the perfect combination for a great night out.
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The
Picture features (left to right): Manager Graham
Arathoon, his wife Debbie, Head Chef Andrew
Grant and Deputy Manager Rachel Roberts. |
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Spring
Pub of the Season 2010 |
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The
lighter mornings and evenings meant that Spring
had sprung and it was time for the Abercolwyn
branch of CAMRA to unveil their Pub of the Season
for Spring 2010. The winner was the Picture
House which is the Wetherspoons in Colwyn Bay.
CAMRA chairman Ian Saunders praised Licensee
Steve Bland and his staff for keeping the real
ale in excellent form.
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licensee
Steve Bland (left) accepting the award from Abercolwyn
Chairman Ian Saunders |
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Eight
handpumps dispense beers from all over the country and they
also serve real cider. The Picture House always sells a local
beer from breweries such as Conwy. The pub holds many beer
festivals and the presentation of the award took place during
a Welsh ales festival held to celebrate St. David’s Day.
Amongst the beers on offer were Brains St. David’s Ale,
Rhymney Dark, Vale of Glamorgan Wheat’s Occurring, Conwy
Telford Porter, Breconshire Red Dragon and Bullmastiff Sun of
a Bitch. This is the second CAMRA award the pub has received
and they are a regular entry in the Good Beer Guide.
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The
picture shows cellarman Jon Lyons and some other members
of the local CAMRA branch. |
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Abercolwyn CAMRA Pub of the
Year 2010 |
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The
Penrhyn Arms in Penrhynside had just been announced
as Pub of the Year by the Abercolwyn branch
of CAMRA. Branch chairman Ian Saunders said
that the pub had gained the award due to the
consistent quality of the real ales on offer,
not only in the last 12 months, but for a number
of years. The pub also has the best range of
ciders in Wales and had recently introduced
a range of Belgian and other foreign beers.
The presentation night was a special Pie and
Porter evening where, not only were there a
couple of great porters on the bar, but a selection
of pies and other food was available. And just
to prove what a great community pub the Arms
is, the food was provided, not only by the landlord,
but also by many local people. As well as the
great pies, the two porters on offer were Downton
Honey Porter (4.4%) and South Cotswold Hung,
Drawn and Portered (5%). Also on sale were two
local Welsh beers – Purple Moose Calon Lan and
Nant Chwaden Awr plus Welsh ciders from Rosies
Triple D and a Welsh perry from Gwynt-y-Ddraig.
CAMRA is always trying to recruit new members
to its ranks and the newest member Julia Barrett,
who was on celebrating her birthday on the night
of the presentation, was on hand to present
licensee John Sumbland with the Pub of the Year
2010 award. |
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Pictured
left to right are:- Landlord John Sumbland,
Abercolwyn CAMRA Chairman Ian Saunders and new
recruit Julia Barrett (holding the plaque). |
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Recently
licensee Stephen Reece of the Kings Head in
Llandudno was presented with the award for Pub
of the Season 2009 / 2010 by the Abercolwyn
branch of the Campaign for Real Ale . The Kings
Head is still a favourite for CAMRA members
as well as locals for its great atmosphere,
fantastic food and, most importantly of all,
some of the best beer around. Greene King IPA
and Abbot Ale are always available and guest
beers come from far and wide such as Titanic
Stout, Wild Hop OPA and Butcombe Christmas Steps.
Speaking at the presentation, Abercolwyn CAMRA
Chairman Ian Saunders said that the pub had
spent seven consecutive years in the Good Beer
Guide and this was due to the great quality
and variety of the real ales on offer. During
the summer months real scrumpy cider is also
available. Even though the presentation took
place at the end of January the pub was packed
out which is great to see in these times of
pub closures. Everyone present had a great time
and if pubs can be as good as this there no
reason for them to close.
The picture
features Licensee Stephen Reece (holding the award) and his
staff.
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Double Cider award for
Penrhyn Arms, Penrhynside |
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The
Penrhyn Arms in Penrhynside near Llandudno has
just received two awards from the CAMRA for
the quality and range of ciders and perries
on sale there. Earlier this year the village
local was named as CAMRA’s Regional Cider &
Perry Pub of the Year for the Merseyside, Cheshire
& North Wales region but the now the pub
has been named as the best in Wales and was
also Runner-up in the national competition making
it the second best pub in the whole of the UK
for cider. The Arms specialised in Welsh ciders
and perries and at the recent presentation night
there were six ciders and two perries including
offerings from Gwynt-y-Ddraig in Pontypridd
and Rosies Triple D from Llandegla, near Wrexham.
CAMRA’s Regional Director from Merseyside, Cheshire
& North Wales was on hand at the presentation
and praised licensees John & Sharon Sumbland
for not only selling great cider but great beer
as well. He went on to say what a great community
pub the Penrhyn Arms is and although the presentation
was on a wet Thursday night the pub was packed
to the rafters with locals who there especially
for the special presentation.
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Pictured is CAMRA Regional Director Ian Garner (right)
presenting landlord John Sumbland with the awards for
Welsh Cider & Perry Pub of the Year 2009 and National
Cider & Perry Pub of the Year 2009 Runner-up |
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Penrhyn Old Hall wins CAMRA Pub of the
Season award Autumn 2009 |
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The
Abercolwyn branch of CAMRA recently presented
their award for Pub of the Season Autumn 2009
to Guy Marsh of the Penrhyn Old Hall in Penrhyn
Bay . The Old Hall has been in the Marsh family
since 1963 and have always been advocates of
real ale. Speaking at the presentation CAMRA
branch Chairman Ian Saunders said that the pub
had a reputation for the best pint of Bass around,
and in for the last few years have also been
selling a variety of guest ales. The Penrhyn
Old Hall features in the recently released CAMRA
Good Beer Guide 2010 and this is the fifth year
in succession that the pub has been in the guide.
This is down to the hard work of Guy and his
staff in keeping the real ale in top form. Guest
beers come from several independent breweries
such at Cottage and local breweries such as
Conwy, Great Orme, Nant and Spitting feathers
are often available, indeed on the evening of
the presentation the guest beer was Rampart
from the Conwy Brewery. Many locals and CAMRA
members attended the presentation and the night
proved to be a great success. Guy and the team
were thrilled to receive the award |
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Pictured
is Guy receiving the accolade from CAMRA Branch Chairman Ian
Saunders |
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Red Lion 15 Years in the
Good Beer Guide |
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Recently
CAMRA has launched the Good Beer Guide 2010 which lists over
4,500 of the best pubs in the UK . The Red Lion in Old
Colwyn has now been in the Guide for the last 15 years
running, so to commemorate this feat a special presentation
night was held there. Licensees Geoff and Debby Hughes
welcomed CAMRA members and locals to sample their ales for a
special price of £1.95 for the evening and CAMRA were
offering special discounts on the Good Beer Guide for the
duration of the event. Eight different real ales were on
offer plus a real cider and a real perry. For the record the
beers were: Marston’s Burton Bitter, Brains Dark, Mauldons
Ploughmans, Wylan Northern Kite, Weetwood Cheshire Cat,
Black Dog Schooner, RCH Steam Harvest and Double Header,
plus Westons Traditional Scrumpy Cider and Westons Country
Perry. Speaking at the presentation Abercolwyn CAMRA
Chairman Ian Saunders said that very few pubs could gain
entry to the Guide year after year and that the only way to
do so was by having consistently high quality ales all year
round and that’s exactly what the Red Lion has been doing
for the last 15 years. Pictured is Ian with current Licensee
Geoff Hughes.
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Summer Pub of the Season 2009 |
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The Abercolwyn Branch of
CAMRA recently presented it’s award for Summer Pub of the
Season 2009 to Cobden’s Hotel in Capel Curig near
Betws-y-Coed. CAMRA Chairman Ian Saunders explained that
Cobden’s had won the award for serving excellent quality real
ales and ciders. On the evening of the presentation the four
ales on offer were all from North Wales breweries: Orme from
Great Orme, Dark Side of the Moose from Purple Moose, Facer’s
DHB (Dave’s Hoppy Beer) and a beer especially brewed for the
hotel by Conwy Brewery – Cobden’s Ale. The cider available
was also local: Rosie’ s Triple D Medium and a special treat
was in store as the cider producer himself, Steve Hughes was
on hand and had brought with him his brand new medium perry.
Steve himself was recently a winner having received Joint
Silver in CAMRA’s National Cider & Perry competition for his
dry cider. Cobden’s licensee Chris Jones was thrilled to
receive his award and was the perfect host for the evening of
celebration.
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Pictured (left to right) are Cobden’s
licensee Chris Jones
and Cider Maker Steve Hughes with their
awards |
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Chris Jones being presented with his award from
Abercolwyn CAMRA chairman Ian Saunders. |
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Recently,
the Penrhyn Arms
in Penrhynside
was awarded Regional
Cider & Perry Pub of the Year 2009 for
Merseyside, Cheshire & North Wales. This is the second year
running that the Arms has picked up the accolade. Earlier
this year they were crowned Abercolwyn CAMRA Cider & Perry
Pub of the Year making it the best cider pub in the County
of Conwy but now it is the best in the region. Three years
ago the pub was a National Finalist in the competition
putting it in the top four in the UK and Licensees John and
Sharon Sumbland are hoping to repeat that feat this year or
maybe even go one better!
On the
night of the presentation, there were nine ciders and
perries available and all but one from Wales . There were
six ciders, two perries and a pyder (from Gwynt-y-Ddraig,
Pontypridd) which is a blend of cider and perry. The
offerings included Ralph’s from New Radnor and the full
range from Rosie’s Triple D of Llandegla, near Wrexham
including the world premiere of the new perry.
Rosie’s Triple D
owner and producer Steve Hughes was in attendance because he
had also won a prestigious award. Last year Steve picked up
the joint runner-up spot in the Welsh Cider &
Perry
Competition and this year he was the
overall
winner. He then went onto to win
Joint Silver in the National
Cider & Perry Competition 2009 making Rosie’s
Triple D one of the best ciders in the UK
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evening was topped off with some great food including ham
cooked in cider, bara brith made with cider and apple
scones. The full list of ciders & perries were as follows:-
Gwynt-y-Ddraig Malvern Hills Perry – 5.5%
Rosie’s
Triple D Perry – 6%
Gwynt-y-Ddraig Pyder (medium) – 6%
Briavel’s
Cider – 5.5%
Ralph’s
Medium – 6%
Rosie’s
Triple D Medium – 7.2%
Rosie’s
Triple D Dry - 7.2%
Rosie’s
Triple D Rampant Ram -7.4% (fermented in rum barrels)
Rosie’s
Triple D Wicked Wasp - 7.4% (fermented in whisky barrels)
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Abercolwyn
CAMRA Club of the Year 2009
Recently, the Abercolwyn branch of CAMRA
presented their award for Club of the Year to Colwyn Bay
Cricket Club in Rhos-on-Sea.
The
ceremony took place on Friday 22nd
May and served as a curtain raiser to the clubs first ever
beer festival featuring no less than 17 different beers from
11 different breweries including beers like Mauldons Black
Adder, Sringhead Roaring Meg, Taylors Landlord and local
breweries such as Conwy and Great Orme. CAMRA chairman Ian
Saunders presented the award to club steward Stuart
Chapman-Edwards, assistant steward Sandra Hartley and Honorary
Treasurer David Madoc-Jones explaining that the award was not
just to do with the beer festival but for the consistent
quality and variety of the real ales on offer all year round
in the main bar. Four ales are always available: Tetley Bitter
& Dark Mild and two guest beers. The presentation set the
scene for a great weekend at the club as the fantastic weather
was complemented by some great cricket, a Sunday afternoon
barbecue and a great live band on Sunday night: Xell. Stuart
and the committee were delighted that their efforts had been
recognised by CAMRA and all present thought that the beer
festival had been a great success and it was hoped that this
would be the start of an annual event.
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Most Improved Pub of the Year 2009
The Holland Arms in Trofarth has
been unveiled as Most Improved Pub of the Year 2009 by the Abercolwyn
branch of CAMRA. Current licensees Lynnette and Cherie Oliver
and Darren Roberts have being running the pub for about 18
months now and have transformed the place. An extensive
refurbishment was tastefully done and was in keeping with the
‘country pub’ image that the Holland Arms has always had. One
of the areas where the pub has returned to its former glory is
in the kitchen, where delicious, good value meals are
prepared.
As far as CAMRA is concerned however, the most
important change has taken place in the bar, where a selection
of three real ales from Conwy, Great Orme and Purple Moose
breweries is now available. Always kept in superb condition,
these have included beers such as Welsh Pride, Celtica and
Dark Side of the Moose. These changes have been reflected in
customers coming back through the doors and in the
reintroduction of the pub into the Good Beer Guide for the
first time in many years; culminating in the presentation of
the Most Improved Pub award. Lynnette, Cherie and Darren were
delighted that their work had been rewarded by CAMRA and
extended an invitation for customers old and new to come and
try the great beer, food and atmosphere of the Holland Arms
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Abercolwyn CAMRA Food Pub of
the Year, The Toad, Rhos on Sea
Every year the Abercolwyn Branch of CAMRA tries to find a
pub that serves the best combination of excellent food and
real ale. This year the accolade has gone to the Toad in Rhos-on-Sea,
Colwyn Bay . Over the last 12 months they have served the best
value and quality food in the area. On Tuesday nights they
have a "Pie and a Pint Night". They also keep an excellent
cellar, with two or three top quality cask ales from the
Marston’s range available on the bar looked after with great
care by licensee Peter Hammond. On the evening of the
presentation head chef Wayne Roberts provided a special three
course dinner menu with a choice of six starters, six mains
and six sweets to celebrate their award. The favourite
starters were the strips of beef cooked in ginger and sweet
chili and the mushrooms stuffed with stilton cheese. The
preferred main course was fillet beef with pate in puff pastry
and the Chicken in bacon and shallot sauce. To provide the
perfect finish was the trio of chocolate:- a mousse, triple
choc fudge in a brandy basket and a shot of brandy
chocolate milkshake.
As result of their hard work, Abecolwyn Branch chairman Ian
Saunders presented Pete and Wayne of the Toad with the award
of Food Pub of the Year 2009. They were both ecstatic to
receive the honour and Pete thanked all of his bar staff and
kitchen staff. The Toad was fully booked on the evening and
everyone present agreed that it had been a superb night.
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Pen Y Bryn, Llanrwst is
Abercolwyn`s LocAle Pub of the Year 2009
During the first week of June, the
Abercolwyn branch of CAMRA held its first ever Local’s
Pub Week. This was designed to encourage people to use their
local pub. Several pubs in the area held events such as quiz
nights and music nights to entice punters back to the pub. The
Picture House in Colwyn Bay , for example, held a week long
beer festival of local Welsh ales. The highlight of the week
was on Friday night at the Pen-y-Bryn in Llanrwst where a
presentation took place for LocAle Pub of the Year 2009. So
what is LocAle? Well, basically it means simply Local Ale. The
idea behind it is to encourage pubs to promote and sell beers
from local breweries thus reducing the number of ‘beer miles’
a beer has to travel to get from the brewery to the pub door
and thus reducing the carbon footprint and also saving on
fuel. It is also, of course, supporting local businesses and
‘keeping it Welsh’. The Pen-y-Bryn has, for some time now,
been supporting its local brewery Bragdy’r Nant which is less
than a mile down the road. Since 2007 Nant have been producing
some excellent real ales such as Chwaden Aur and Gran’s Lamb.
On the night of the presentation the Pen-y-Bryn was serving
the easy drinking Cwrw Coryn (4.2%) and Mwnci Nell, a
fantastic stout ale at 5.3%. Abercolwyn CAMRA’s LocAle Scheme
now features more than 20 pubs in the county and this award
was presented to Arwyn & Paul at Pen-y-Bryn for showing the
greatest dedication to LocAle and for ‘keeping it local’. The
presentation evening was a great success with the pub packed
with locals sampling the LocAle.
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Purple Moose is the Champion Beer of Wales
Three North Wales Breweries enjoyed success at the Great
Welsh Beer & Cider Festival in Cardiff where almost all (35
approx) real ale Welsh breweries were represented.
Nominations for the competition are made each year by the
Welsh CAMRA branches and
 tasting panels in a number of
categories covering all of the different beer styles. 
Great Orme
took the award for Strong Mild for their Welsh Black,
Facer’s were runner up in the Best Bitter category
for Dave’s Hoppy Beer and in the Bitter category for
Flintshire Bitter. The winner of the Bitter award was
Purple Moose Snowdonia which went on to become the
overall winner of the competition making it the Champion
Beer of Wales 2009. This coincides with their 4th
anniversary and 500th brew! Glaslyn also secured the
runner-up spot in the Golden Ale category. So
congratulations go out to Lawrence Washington of Purple
Moose, Jonathan Hughes of Great Orme and Dave Facer. Iechyd
Da!
 The winners in each category as awarded by independent
judging panels are as follows:
Bitter Category - Winner: Purple Moose Snowdonia.
Runner-up: Facers Flintshire Bitter
Best Bitter - Winner: Breconshire Cribyn. Runner-up: Facers
DHB
Golden Ale - Winner: Celt Experience Golden. Runner-up:
Purple Moose Glaslyn
Strong mild - Winner: Great Orme Welsh Black
Mild - Winner: Bryncelyn Buddy Marvellous. Runner-up:
Brains Dark
Strong ale - Winner: Otley OG. Runner-up: Breconshire GVX
Barley Wine - Winner: Otley O8. Runner-up : Heart of Wales
High as a Kite
Speciality beer - Winner: Breconshire Spirit of the Dragon.
Runner-up: Otley 'O' Garden
Stout - Winner: Heart of Wales Welsh Black. Runner-up:
Otley Dark 'O'
Porter - Winner: Otley Porter
Overall Champion Beer of Wales - Winner: Purple Moose
Snowdonia. Runners-up: Otley OG, Otley Porter.
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Abercolwyn Mild Pub of the Year |
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In May CAMRA
celebrates and promotes that almost forgotten drink of mild.
Mild tends to be darker in colour and maltier than other
beers. It also tends to be lower in alcohol and therefore
usually cheaper. Each year the Abercolwyn branch of CAMRA
singles out a pub that has championed the cause of mild over
the last year. In Rowen, Tŷ Gwyn Hotel has been selling Lees
Brewer’s Dark for about 18 months and it is being enjoyed by
locals and visitors alike. Speaking at the presentation
Abercolwyn CAMRA Chairman Ian Saunders commented what a
great community pub Tŷ Gwyn was and how pleased CAMRA were
that the pub is now selling three real ales, because as well
as the mild, Lees Bitter and Dragonfire are on sale as well.
Licensee Gwen Doran was thrilled to receive the accolade
that that her efforts had been rewarded. Pictured is Gwen
Doran receiving the plaque.
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Abercolwyn Pub of the Season, Spring 2009
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The Gladstone in Dwygyfylchi,
near Penmaenmawr has just been awarded the Pub of the Season,
Spring 2009 by the Abercolwyn branch of CAMRA . When
presenting the award CAMRA Chairman Ian Saunders commented
that two years ago the pub won the Most Improved Pub of the
Year award and has been constantly improving since then.
During the recent National Cask Week the pub featured over a
dozen real ales and were offering ‘try before you buy’ samples
to customers. In fact on the presentation evening there were
no less then six ales to try: Anglo Dutch Oliver Crunch, Black
Sheep, Everards Beacon and three from the local Conwy Brewery:
Mulberry Dark, Welsh Pride and Celebration. And what a
celebration is was! Laurence Scally was on hand to collect the
accolade and was delighted that the pubs efforts had been
rewarded by CAMRA. And all CAMRA members and locals agreed
that the Gladstone was indeed, championing the cause of Real
Ale. Cheers!
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Abercolwyn Pub of the Year
2009 |
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The Abercolwyn CAMRA
branch Pub of the Year award for 2009 has gone to the
Kinmel Arms in St. George
near Abergele.
The photos shows (left to right): James Guest, bar person
Sarah, Lynn and Tim.
To celebrate the event
owners Lynn Cunnah-Watson and Tim Watson organised a Gourmet
Beer Tasting Evening. This involved a five course meal with
each course cooked in a different beer and served with that
beer.
The appetiser was a
‘Trucker’s Breakfast’ which was black pudding, tomato and
bacon crouton topped with a soft poached quail’s egg. This was
served with a local beer from the Great Orme brewery: Welsh
Mountain IPA. The next course was belly pork with apple sauce
and cooked in a real cider from North Wales : Rosie’s Triple D
Rampant Ram. The main course was a duo of venison served with
a dark German Wheat beer: Erdinger Dunkel Weiss. The sweet was
treacle tart and clotted cream with another local beer Facer’s
North Star Porter. The cheese course came with a Finnish beer:
Lapin Kulta.
Speaking at the
presentation, Abercolwyn CAMRA Chairman Ian Saunders explained
what qualities a good pub or inn should possess: “Originally
pubs were coaching inns providing accommodation and food as
well as ale. The Kinmel provides all of these amenities at the
highest quality. Obviously, the ale is the most important
aspect for CAMRA and cellarman and chief bar person James
Guest seeks out the best real ales and ciders he can find.
Even more impressive is the emphasis on local North Wales
breweries.” On the night of the presentation there were three
draught beers and two ciders and all locally produced
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The Bridge Inn, Conwy is
Abercolwyn CAMRA
Pub of the Season Winter 2008/2009
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 The
Abercolwyn Branch of CAMRA have just announced that
their award for Winter Pub of the Season has gone to the
Bridge Inn, Conwy. The certificate was presented (left to
right) to Bar Manager Catherine Hughes and Licensees Keith
Boothby and Jennifer Thomas. Abercolwyn CAMRA chairman Ian
Saunders congratulated Jenny and Keith praising them on the
outstanding quality of the ales and of the great atmosphere
and sense of community that they have instilled in the pub.
They serve up to five real ales at any one time and on the
evening of the presentation they were Banks’s Bitter, Jennings
Dark Mild and Cocker Hoop and Marston’s Pedigree and 175 Not
Out, a 4.2% beer celebrating 175 years of brewing at Marston’s.
The Bridge is currently enjoying National fame as it is
featured in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2009. The presentation
night was a fantastic evening with CAMRA members and locals
celebrating the accolade. Keith and Jenny said that were
delighted to receive recognition for their work and now want
to build up an equally fine reputation for their new pub
venture Y Bedol in Tal-y-Bont. |
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Penrhyn Arms,
Penrhynside –
Penrhyn Arms, Penrhynside is
CAMRA Welsh Cider & Perry Pub of
the Year 2008
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It’s been a great year for John & Sharon Sumbland at the
Penrhyn Arms in Penrhynside as far as cider and
perry are concerned. Earlier this year they won the Abercolwyn
CAMRA award for Cider Pub of the Year and then went on to win
the Regional Competition for Merseyside, Cheshire & North
Wales and it has now named the best cider pub for the whole of
Wales . A presentation took place at the pub recently where
the four ciders and one perry on offer were all Welsh. From
Gwynt-y-Draig in Pontypridd were Farmhouse Sweet and Haymaker
plus Two Trees Perry and, hailing from Llandegla near Wrexham,
were Rosies Triple D Medium and Dry (both 7.2%). There was
some great food served at the presentation including cider
sausages, gammon cooked in cider and even bara brith made from
cider. This caps off a great year from John & Sharon as they
recently celebrated the arrival of their second child Lydia .
Landlord John was on hand to receive the accolade for Welsh
Cider & Perry Pub of the Year 2008 and was delighted that his
efforts had been recognised by members of CAMRA and locals
alike.
Pictured is John Sumbland (left) receiving the award from Ian
Saunders, CAMRA’s Regional Cider Co-ordinator for North Wales
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Wings Social Club, Colwyn Bay – Branch Club
of the Year, Regional Club of the Year |
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 A
local social club had just received a major award from CAMRA
(Campaign for Real Ale). After winning the local Club of the
Year competition earlier this year, the Wings Social Club in
Colwyn Bay had been voted Regional Club of the Year 2008 by
members of CAMRA from Merseyside, Cheshire & North Wales. This
means that the club is now recognised by CAMRA as being in the
top 16 clubs in the country. There were a couple of special
guests at the presentation including Assembly Member Mark
Isherwood and CAMRA Regional Director for Merseyside, Cheshire
& North Wales Ian Garner. Speaking at the presentation Mr.
Garner commended the pub on serving excellent quality real
ales and said the judges had been very impressed with the
welcome they received at the club and the hospitality extended
to them. Ian singled out steward Dawn Prosser-Richards for
particular praise for keeping the ale in such good order. The
club serves beers from the J.W. Lees brewery: Brewers Dark,
Bitter and a seasonal beer such as John Willies, a premium
4.5% bitter. Dawn put on a fantastic buffet for the
presentation that included a lamb stew cooked in real ale and
a great time was had by all. |
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Penrhyn Arms, Penrhynside – Branch Pub of the Year, Branch
Cider & Perry Pub of the Year, Regional Cider Pub of the Year,
Welsh Cider & Perry Pub of the Year
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The Penrhyn Arms in Penrhynside has been
presented with the award for Regional Cider pub of the Year .
Early this year, the pub won the Abercolwyn Branch Cider Pub
of the Year making it the best cider pub in the county of
Conwy but this Regional award now makes it the best in the
region of Merseyside, Cheshire & North Wales and is now in a
competition to make the best in all of Wales . Why so many
accolades? Well, quite simply, it is the best outlet for miles
around for quality cider and perry at competitive prices. The
pubs reputation has spread far and wide meaning that it is
able to stock up to four ciders and a perry at any one time.
At the recent presentation there were two from the south of
England : Black Rat and Cheddar Valley , a Gwynt-y-Draig
Malvern Hills Perry from Pontypridd and two local ciders from
Llandegla near Wrexham Rosies Triple D and Wicked Wasp. The
presentation was attended by many locals and CAMRA members
including Ian Saunders – CAMRA Regional Cider Co-ordinator for
North Wales and Rhys Jones who is a member of CAMRA’s National
Committee for cider and Perry. Pictured is Rhys Jones (left)
presenting the award to licensee John Sumbland (seen drinking
a pint of Wicked Wasp).
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