PRINCE OF WALES (FOXFIELD, CUBRIA) AND HOP & VINE (KINGSTON UPON HULL) VOTED NATIONAL CIDER & PERRY PUBS OF THE YEAR

Issued Friday 1st October 2010. Download this article as a pdf.

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, as part of their Cider Month celebrations, has today announced the best two pubs for real cider and perry in Britain. The Prince of Wales in Foxfield, Cumbria and the Hop & Vine in Hull have been voted Joint Winners in CAMRA’s National Cider & Perry Pub of the Year competition.

A record 120 nominations were made for the sixth National Cider & Perry Pub of the Year contest. CAMRA’s Competition Organiser Sarah Newson said, “We judge the nominated pubs in a similar way to CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year competition* but with an emphasis on the promotion of real cider and perry and having enthusiastic staff who knows what’s real and what’s not.”

Newson continued, “We had some very good entries this year but it was impossible to separate the two winners. The Prince of Wales and the Hop & Vine are doing a fantastic job raising the profile of real cider and perry and offering consumers a fine choice at the bar. Both are very worthy winners of the national award.”

In the last year the Hop & Vine has served 63 different ciders and perries. The Prince of Wales has sold more than 50 different ciders and perries in the last 12 months.

Stuart Johnson, Licensee of the Prince of Wales said, “We are amazed that a pub in Cumbria has won this national award for real cider and perry! Both real cider and real perry play a major role in the success of our pub and we are extremely pleased to be jointly crowned National Cider Pub of the Year with the Hop and Vine in Hull.”

Stewart Campbell, Licensee of the Hop & Vine said, “We were delighted to hear that we are joint winners of CAMRA’s National Cider Pub of the Year. Our successful business plan is simple – Real Cider, Real Perry, Real Ale and Real Food!”

Andrea Briers, CAMRA’s Cider & Perry Campaigning Chair feels offering real cider and perry could play its part in helping pubs survive in these tough times for the pub industry. She said, “With almost 40 pubs closing every month, pubs need to look at a variety of different ways to differentiate themselves from the others in the area. Real cider and perry has been growing in popularity at CAMRA beer festivals in recent years and we now have a huge demand for these drinks. Offering consumers a range of real cider and perry could, like what real ale has done for a large number of pubs in the past, drive more trade into pubs in these tough economic times.”

For more information and comment please contact:
Alan Canvess (Branch Chairman) Tel: (01482) 446320 E-mail: alan@canvess.karoo.co.uk
Stuart Johnson, Prince of Wales Tel: 01229 716238
Stewart Campbell, Hop & Vine Tel: 07500 543199