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meeson · Site Admin Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 615

CAMRA Pub of the Year revealed

Yorkshire Pub wins prestigious award

The Campaign for Real Ale has revealed its pub of the year 2008 as Kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield.

Licensee Trevor Wraith bought the semi derelict pub in 2001 and swiftly turned the business around after it reopened in 2002.

Since then the Kelham Island Tavern has been CAMRA Sheffield Pub of the Year for the last four years, and was a past regional winner in both 2004 and 2007. The pub is also listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009.

In July 2007, the pub suffered horrendous flood damage to the pub floor and cellar and was forced to close for six weeks.

According to CAMRA, The National Pub of the Year competition takes into account all the criteria that makes a good pub including the quality of the beer, atmosphere, décor, customer service, clientele mix and value for money.

Julian Hough, CAMRA’s pubs director and one of the final judges, said: “The Kelham Island Tavern is a regular in the Good Beer Guide and has been treasured by pub-goers from Yorkshire and beyond since its opening in 2002.

"It truly is a pub for everyone, and its attention to detail is fantastic. To have won so many awards in such a short space of time, even enduring a disastrous flood in 2007, is a true testament to the dedication and commitment of its staff. The pub is a deserved winner, and a wonderful example of a community pub.”

Pub manager Lewis Gonda said: “We are absolutely overjoyed, this is fantastic news. We honestly never thought we’d get to this stage of the competition, and we are so proud to have won. This award is due to the excellent brewers we deal with, our faithful and supportive pub regulars, and our invaluable staff members."