Landlord’s top triumph for his real ale

Well-known local landlord Steve Norris has taken over at The Taps pub in Lytham.
Steve outside the pub. PIC BY ROB LOCK
7-1-2013 — Well-known local landlord Steve Norris has taken over at The Taps pub in Lytham. Steve outside the pub. PIC BY ROB LOCK 7-1-2013

The Taps fought off competition from across the Fylde coast for the accolade and will now go forward to compete at the next stage (for Lancashire) in CAMRA’s regional and national POTY competition.

The award was made to landlord Steve Norris (who had previously won the award while landlord at the Shovels, on Common Edge Road, Marton) by branch chairman, Paul Smith.

Paul said: “It is tremendous that Steve has won this award after being little more than a year at the Taps.

“The pub is a very worthy winner and Steve is only one of two landlords in our area who have won this award in two separate pubs.

The other winning landlord was his predecessor at the Taps, Ian Rigg, so there must be something special about the Taps and the people who look after it.

“Twice before, the pub has reached the final stage of consideration for National CAMRA award, so we hope that this will be third time lucky.”

Accepting the award, Steve said it had been a very challenging first year and he thanked the branch, all his customers and above all his staff for their loyalty and support.

He also paid tribute to his predecessor, Ian Rigg, who had done so much to build up the pub’s reputation.