Fylde coast pubs in awards win

Two Fylde coast pubs are in the spotlight for the quality of ale and cider they serve.
Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre CAMRA branch chairman Paul Smith, left, presents the pub of the season award to Washington landlord Stuart CulleyBlackpool, Fylde and Wyre CAMRA branch chairman Paul Smith, left, presents the pub of the season award to Washington landlord Stuart Culley
Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre CAMRA branch chairman Paul Smith, left, presents the pub of the season award to Washington landlord Stuart Culley

The Washington in Topping Street has been hailed by beer buffs as the pub of the season.

While Fifteens in St Annes was voted Cider Pub of the Year by the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Campaign for Real Ale group.

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It also won the runners-up award for the pub of the year which was given to the Pump and Truncheon last month.

CAMRA said the award to The Washington reflected the massive improvement in both the quality and selection of the pub’s real ale in recent times.

Presenting the award, branch chairman Paul Smith said: “If you go back three years, this pub hardly served any real ale. To go from that to where it is today, just shows how dedicated the landlord and staff are when it comes to serving great ale.”

Accepting the award, landlord Stuart Culley, who used to run the Wyre Light in Fleetwood, said: “We have worked really hard over the last three years. The pub underwent a refurb, and I decided then to make real ale a fixture.

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“We have eight hand pumps, and plans for two more. I look forward to seeing more CAMRA members become regulars.”Presenting the Cider Pub of the Year award to Fifteens, CAMRA’s cider officer Vanessa Gledhill said: “This award recognises several things about Fifteens and its cider – quality, knowledge, promotion, CAMRA friendliness and, above all, the fact that they are a pub for the community.”

Accepting the cider award and the runner-up prize which it has had three years running, landlord Martin Gillett said: “This award is also for all the staff, and everyone who comes in here to drink real ale. I am delighted with what we have achieved over the years - we have kept the competition on their toes, too.”