The best pub in the UK has been announced, with the ecstatic owners exclaiming that "it's incredible".
The Tamworth Tap has held off stiff competition for a second year in a row to be crowned CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year 2023.
It’s the highest honour awarded to a pub by The Campaign for Real Ales with judges scoring entrants on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, community focus and the quality of the beer.
Located in an old 16th century shop front, the brewpub was opened by owners George and Louise Greenaway in 2017.
Located in an old 16th century shop front, the brewpub was opened by owners George and Louise Greenaway in 2017
GB News
Speaking to GB News about the win, George said: “It’s incredible! Words can’t quite describe how we’re all feeling.
“All that hard work over the past 12 months has certainly paid off!”
It’s only the second pub to win the prize twice consecutively alongside the Kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield, which won in 2008 and 2009.
Themed events regularly take place in the pub including film screenings, comedy nights and performances from local artists in the beer garden overlooked by Tamworth Castle.
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Themed events regularly take place in the pub including film screenings
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CAMRA Awards Director Laura Emson said: “The Tamworth Tap should be incredibly proud of this feat, to be named the best pub in the UK two times on the trot is a remarkable achievement.
“The pub encapsulates everything that CAMRA aims to promote and protect, and each member of the team deserves the recognition twice over!”
She added: “A pub doesn’t have to be a national award winner to be a vital part of a local community and following a tough few years for the industry, our support is needed more than ever.”
383 pubs, or more than two a day, closed in the first half of 2023 with rising costs due to the cost of living and high energy prices putting a strain on businesses across the country.
George Greenaway told GB News about the struggle over the past year with ‘extortionate’ bills.
He said: “It was extortionate what we were paying this time 12 months ago, that meant we had to reduce the amount of beer we were brewing.
“The discount on business rates across the hospitality sector has helped and we’re back on par now with an ok cost per unit of electricity.”