Pub toasted as best in Britain

The Cheshire pub boasts 'a community focus'

A pub owned by a large brewery has won the title of best in Britain for the first time, it was announced on Tuesday.

Until now the prize for Pub of the Year has always been awarded to an independently run free house.

But organisers the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), announced the winner this year was The Nursery Inn, a pub in the Stockport suburb of Heaton Norris, Cheshire, owned by Manchester-based Hydes Brewery.

The decision is also a landmark for urban pubs, as previous winners have generally been in rural settings.

Community service

Mike Benner, head of campaigns at Camra, said: "Free houses tend to have a wider selection beers and are not restricted to one brewer's ales, so that is generally why they have won until now.

"What made The Nursery Inn stand out was that all its beers were in tip-top quality, along with the all the other aspects which make a successful pub important."

The 200 branches of Camra all nominated their Pub of the Year for their area and these were then entered into the national competition for one winner and three runners-up.

The award not only considers beer quality, but also atmosphere, campaigning, service and welcome, community focus, style and decor, and value for money.

The Nursery Inn, on Green Lane, Heaton Norris, has appeared in the Good Pub Guide since 1984 and is run by George and Susan Lindsay.

We're also one of the only pubs to have an old fashioned vault

George Lindsay

Mrs Lindsay said: "We knew we were in the last four of the competition but never really imagined we were going to win it.

Mr Lindsay said: "This is absolutely amazing. It's quite a surprise because in my job I travel around a lot of pubs and I've seen so many nice ones.

"But we do stock quite a variety of beers these days.

"Many of the staff have been here a long time, are very friendly and work hard and Sue's food is excellent.

"We're also one of the only pubs to have an old fashioned vault."

The runners-up in the Pub of the Year award - which has run since 1988 - were The Ship Inn, Middlestone Village, County Durham; The Bell, Aldworth, Berkshire and The Shipwright's Arms, Faversham, Kent.