National Pub of the Year award for 2008.
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, today announced that its National Pub of the Year for 2008 is the Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield.
The National Pub of the Year competition analyses all the criteria that makes a good pub including the quality of the beer, atmosphere, décor, customer service, clientele mix and value for money.
The Kelham Island Tavern has been a CAMRA Sheffield Pub of the Year for the last four years, and was a past regional winner in both 2004 and 2007. The pub is also listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 bearing the following description:
"An impressive 10 permanent handpumps include two that always dispense a mild and a stout/porter, so you are sure to find something to quench your thirst. A visit in the warmer months enables you to sample the pub"s multi-award winning sub-tropical beer garden- a true gem."
Julian Hough, CAMRA"s Pubs Director and one of the final judges, said:
"The Kelham Island Tavern is a regular in the Good Beer Guide and has been treasured by pub-goers from Yorkshire and beyond since its opening in 2002. It truly is a pub for everyone, and its attention to detail is fantastic. To have won so many awards in such a short space of time, even enduring a disastrous flood in 2007, is a true testament to the dedication and commitment of its staff. The pub is a deserved winner, and a wonderful example of a well-run community pub."
On hearing of their success, Lewis Gonda, Pub Manager, said:
"We are absolutely overjoyed, this is fantastic news. We honestly never thought we"d get to this stage of the competition, and we are so proud to have won. This award is due to the excellent brewers we deal with, our faithful and supportive pub regulars, and our invaluable staff members."
Licensee Trevor Wraith bought the property in 2001 with the uphill task of turning a semi-derelict site with a damaged roof into an award-winning pub. After a number of repairs and a lot of hard work, the pub re-opened in March 2002. Trade boomed from day one thanks to a loyal community clientele, with the pub consistently successful in local CAMRA awards. In July 2007, the pub suffered horrendous flood damage to the pub floor and cellar, and was forced to close for 6 weeks. Trevor admits this closure was a blow, but not even he could predict the community"s positive support for the pub on its re-opening.