PUB-GOERS in Hanley Castle have raised a glass in celebration after the village’s watering hole was named as one of the best in the country.
The Three Kings Inn has made it on to CAMRA’s list of 200 Local Pubs of the Year and Sue Roberts, who has been licensee at the Church End pub for ten years, said she was ‘delighted’ to see it being recognised.
It is not the first time the pub, based between Malvern and Upton, has made it onto the prestigious list as it was named National Pub of the Year about 20 years ago before securing a runner-up spot a few years later.
Miss Roberts has lived at the pub, which celebrated its centenary in 2011, all her life, has seen it passed through the generations and said it holds a special place in her heart.
“It is great news and we are delighted,” she said.
“There are plenty of good pubs for CAMRA to choose from so it was a slight surprise we were back on the list again after so many years.
“We have got many locals, some of whom have been drinking here since before I was born.
“You can predict which day they are coming in and indeed what time they might appear. I could line the drinks up on the counter before they got in and I would be pretty much right.
“It is pleasing they have chosen us again after all these years.”
CAMRA volunteers across the UK judge the pubs on decor, value for money, customer service and quality of real ale.
Local branch winners then go forward to battle it out in the regional heats in their quest to become National Pub of the Year, which is announced in early 2016.
Tom Stainer, head of communications at CAMRA, added: “Community Pubs Month is about highlighting the important role pubs play in community life and no pubs are better examples of fantastic locals than these two hundred CAMRA branch winners.
“Each one of them has been judged the best in their respective area and are well worth seeking out for any would-be ale lovers.”
