Aylesbury bar named as joint winner of CAMRA pub of the year award
An Aylesbury pub was crowned as joint champion of a trusted beer group’s annual award.
CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) gave its Pub of the Year award for the Aylesbury and Wycombe areas to two bars within the region.
The Hop Pole in Aylesbury and Lions of Bledlow were announced as joint winners. Branch members, representing the group which has members all across the country, presented staff at both Bucks pubs with their winning certificates.
Mike Clarke, chair of Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe CAMRA said: “These two pubs showed the best of town and country. The Hop Pole is both a beer destination pub and a much-valued community local in Aylesbury. By contrast, the Lions of Bledlow is a true Chilterns country pub that also caters for hikers, cyclists and other visitors to our beautiful countryside. What they have in common is serving a wide range of well-kept real ales.”
Lions of Bledlow is well-known locally for its national television appearances, often appearing as the local in long-running crime drama the Midsomer Murders. CAMRA praised its traditional design highlighting the low beams, flagstone floor and huge fireplace within the bar.
Licensee Mark McKeown revealed to the branch that the pub has recently sold two barrels of Wadworth 6X over the Easter bank holiday. CAMRA also notes that the bar has maintains a selection of four or five real ales.
The Hope Pole licensee, Ian Matthews, was given the pub’s certificate over Easter, tying in with the bar’s traditional Easter beer
festival. It maintains up to 10 real ales, some CAMRA members regard any trip as a beer festival in itself.