Fylde coast pub enjoys seasonal cheer

There will be a spring in the step of the staff at the Old Town Hall in Poulton this week after winning the local CAMRA Pub of the Season Award.

And it was a double celebration at the Church Street pub as it was chosen, not only as the Spring season winner, but also as a runner-up for Pub of the Year, by members of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre CAMRA.

Presenting the award, CAMRA branch chairman Paul Smith said: “The Old Town Hall has provided a great service to the cause of Real Ale over the last few months.”

Handing over the Pub of the Year Silver award, he added “Being a runner-up in a branch with over 160 pubs is still a fantastic achievement.”

In the absence of long-serving landlord Des Smith, assistant manager Simon Billington accepted the awards.

Simon was delighted that The Old Town Hall has been recognised in this way.

He said: “Real ale is very important to this pub.

“We ensure that five real ales are available at all times, and we always look to provide a variety of styles - dark as well as light.

“Being a free house is a big help – we can obtain the beer we want from where we want.”

Paul Smith said the Old Town Hall has an ever-changing roster of five guest ales, all extremely well-kept.

The pub is listed in this year’s Good Beer Guide and in 2012 underwent a refurbishment but it retains its traditional pub atmosphere.