‘Make mine a double’, as landlords pick up awards

The local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale has voted on its best club of the year and 
cider pub of the year.

And the winners were Fifteens in St Annes and Blackpool Cricket Club.

Members of the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre branch work tirelessly on our behalf sampling ales and ciders of quality right across the Fylde and Wyre areas.

And they have singled out Blackpool Cricket Club as the best club for real ale in the area for its ever-changing roster of well-kept real ales.

Presenting the award, branch chairman Paul Smith said: “Once again, the cricket club has shown itself to be the best real ale club in the area.”

Accepting the award, licensee Pete Campbell refused to be complacent, saying: “It is by no means certain that we will keep winning this award every year.

“We need to keep doing what we are doing – selling top-quality real ale, as well as listening to customers about the ales they want so see on the bar.

“We will also keep staging our annual beer festival over the August Bank Holiday.”

CAMRA members are welcome to drink in the club on production of a valid CAMRA membership card. The club now moves on to compete for the title of Lancashire Club of the Year.

Meanwhile there was a double celebration at Fifteens as the St Annes pub was chosen as Cider Pub of the Year, as well as a runner-up for Pub of the Year.

Presenting the award, CAMRA Regional Cider Co-ordinator Vanessa Gledhill said: “CAMRA members undertook a survey trip to all the pubs on the Fylde that sell real cider – someone had to.

“Fifteens was judged to be the best of them all.”

She went on to praise landlord Martin Gillett for his “knowledge of, and enthusiasm for real cider.”

Branch Chairman Paul Smith was on hand to present the runner-up award, stating that “Coming second out of about 150 pubs is still a fantastic achievement.”

Accepting the awards, Martin thanked his staff and regulars for making the pub such a success, as well as CAMRA members for rating his pub so highly.

Smith added: “Fifteens has an ever-changing roster of several guest ales and at least two ciders, all extremely well-kept.”

The Taps in Lytham was voted pub of the year.