Yorkshire pub scoops CAMRA double crown

Kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield has won the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) National Pub of the Year award for the second year in a row.

The success makes it one of only three pubs to have won the annual award twice and the first one ever to win it in consecutive years.

Trevor Wraith, Kelham Island Tavern licensee, said: “We are once again overwhelmed at the judge’s results and delighted to be awarded CAMRA’s top prize for the second year running. It’s truly a great achievement and something we never dreamt of when we first opened.

“With this award, our aim is that we maintain our high standards and continue to fulfil people’s high hopes of our pub.”

CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year competition analyses a number of criteria that constitute a good pub, including the quality of the beer, atmosphere, décor, customer service and the all-round value of the pub visit.

The Kelham Island Tavern, which started life as the Sawmakers Arms in 1833, had been lying derelict until 2002. When awarded the CAMRA prize in 2008 it had already won several local and regional awards including Yorkshire pub of the year three times.

Julian Hough, CAMRA pubs director, praised the Kelham Island Tavern for its attention to detail, the quality of the beer it serves and its service to the local community, that it had achieved in under 10 years.

Runners-up were the Royal Oak Inn in Wantage, Crown Hotel in Worthington and the Royal Oak in Friday Street, West Sussex.

The award presentation will be held at the pub on Wednesday 17 February at 1pm.

Rupert Millar, 16.02.2010