Express & Star

Award celebration for Cradley heath pub

A Cradley Heath pub is celebrating winning an award from the Campaign for Real Ale.

Published
Ryan Hunt, chairman of Dudley and South Staffordshire Camra presenting landlord: Gary Davies with the pub of the year award. At the back are regulars Alexa Normandale, Keith Bromhan, Dean Horton and Dave King.

The Plough and Harrow in Corngreaves Road has been presented with the Dudley and South Staffordshire branch's pub of the year award for 2019.

The branch chose the pub after regular scrutiny of pubs across its area over the past 12 months.

They were judged on beer, atmosphere, service, welcome and value.

The Plough and Harrow had previously won the branch community pub of the year award in 2018.

Branch members visited the pub on Wednesday evening when chairman Ryan Hunt presented the frame award certificate to licensee Gary Davies.

Mr Hunt said: "It has been a short but accelerated journey for the pub. It was only included in the Good Beer Guide for the first time in 2018 due to being a relatively unknown quantity."

He said it had been particularly strong for beer quality, decor and cleanliness.

Mr Davies praised his very loyal and supportive regular customers.

He said the award had personally come as a boost after a difficult few years due to the ill health of his wife Sarah, who was unable to oattend the presentation but was extremely happy at its achievement.

The Plough and Harrow offers a choice of six real ales. Regular beers are Bank's Mild, Ludlow Gold and Wye Valley's Butty Bach and HPA. It is open daily from 11am to 11pm.

The other five finalists, which were visited by the 22 judges in deciding on the winner, were the Cross Inn, Kinver; Bird in Hand, Wordsley; Beacon Hotel, Sedgley; Cat Inn, Enville and Bell Inn, Trysull.