This year’s pub of the year award goes to The Station Inn at Darfield. This is a remarkable
achievement as the current owners have only been trading for just over twelve months. However
if you have drank at the Station it’s easy to see why. The pub got high marks from the
CAMRA judges. The quality eight real ale’s in oversized glasses and friendly atmosphere certainly
made an impression.
All this is thanks to the hard work of licensees Roger & Kris Smith and their wives Wendy &
Jo. On hearing the news Roger & Kris were ecstatic and shocked, “We’re stunned, that’s fantastic
news. We’ve only been open just over a year and to win such an award is remarkable.
It’s been hard work mind, especially with the current economic climate and state of pubs in
general. The response we’ve had has been great. Our customers keep coming back which is
always a good sign. Thanks of course go to all the staff, our customers and CAMRA for their
support.”
Pubs officer Phil Gregg said “this is a great achievement! Roger & Kris have done a fantastic
job. The Station is a great traditional community pub. I would like to congratulate them on their
achievement.”
The eight real ale’s showcase the different styles available today. Golden ale’s, bitters, stouts,
porters and a regular mild are often available. Beers are sourced from local and national breweries
with a locally brewed beer regularly available. Over recent weeks Roger & Kris have introduced
real Cider and Perry to their range. Sourced from small producers, these have
quickly become a popular hit with customers. Good value food is also available including a
popular Sunday lunch.
CAMRA will be making a presentation on Friday 3rd July at around 8 pm, so come along a
raise a toast to a great local pub.
This year's Barnsley CAMRA Pub of the Year, for the second consecutive year goes to the Market Hotel Elsecar. The judges gave this pub rave reviews. The four real ales are always in excellent condition. This is also reflected in a recent CAMRA award for commitment to real ale.
Landlord Dave was over the moon with the news. "It’s great news for me, the staff and
the village. I’d like to give thanks to Ron Lodge for all his hard work. Our real ale sales
at the moment are awesome especially the darker beers. We’re getting visitors from across the country all coming due to our reputation for great real ale."
The pub was built in 1860 in the Earl Fitzwilliam's coal mining village of Elsecar.
The mining ceased years ago but the pub still goes from strength to strength. The Market is a traditional community pub that has remained untouched from modern refurbishment, which is something of a rarity these days.
The market offers the discerning drinker a choice of four real ales, one permanent (Wentworth Pale Ale) and three quick changing guest ales. Cask ales at the Market are sourced from national micros. The pub gives strong support to Yorkshire micros such as Wentworth, Acorn and Glentworth. At the market you are always sure of a warm welcome and a great pint!
Barnsley CAMRA will be making the presentation to the pub on the evening of Wednesday 11th June.
Runners up are The Dog and Partridge, Hazlehead where the presentation will take place on Wednesday 18th June. And The Gatehouse, Barnsley where the presentation was made on Saturday 3rd May.
This year's Barnsley CAMRA's pub of the year 2007 goes to The Market Hotel Elsecar. The judges gave this award winning pub rave reviews. The four real ales on offer are always in excellent condition. This is reflected in a CAMRA award for commitment to real ale.
The pub was built in 1860 in the Earl Fitzwilliam's coal mining village of Elsecar. The mining ceased years ago but the pub still goes from strength to strength. The Market is a traditional community pub that has remained untouched from modern refurbishment, which is something of a rarity these days. Tina and Stuart were over the moon with the news. "That's fantastic news, we are trying to be a traditional community pub. We cater for a wide range of clientele, and have numerous clubs and societies that meet here. We have a quiz night on Wednesday and Sunday, and Karaoke on Sunday too. We've always had Wentworth Pale Ale as a permanent beer and have recently introduced Ruddles County and so far it's going down very well! We've had previous awards from CAMRA and as usual we’re over the moon to receive this one."
Cask ales at the Market are sourced from national micros. The pub gives strong support to local micros such as Wentworth, Acorn and Glentworth. At the market you are always sure of a warm welcome and a great pint!
Barnsley CAMRA made the presentation to the pub on the evening of Friday 6th July.
The competition was hot for the Pub of the Year, with seven pubs getting into the shortlist. The judges who had just 6 weeks to return their votes left it to the very last, and even had an extension of a week to re-check. (I think this means the beer was good then, and they just wanted more… ED).
So the winner is one of our most recent Pub of the Season winners and is one of the outskirt pubs, situated west of Barnsley just inside the Peak District National Park. Congratulations go to Stephen and Audrey Marsh at the Dog and Partridge, Hazlehead – Flouch.
The Dog and Partridge is an old coaching Inn set in the high moorland countryside, just below the east side of Woodhead Pass, this 15th century inn has now been improved by adding 12 guest rooms one of which is a ground floor room which accommodates for disabled visitors. The extension to the rear is also very popular with families. It is the last pub when leaving Barnsley heading for Manchester and is located on the A628 about a mile and a half from Flouch roundabout, or a 25-minute walk off the 23 or 24 buses.
The heart of the pub is the old original coaching inn; this has the main bar and a warming large real fire during the cold winter months, and stone flagged floors. The bar offers four real ales, which are usually rotating with locally produced beers.
Stephen and Audrey have been in the Dog and Partridge for five years and have been entered into the Good Beer Guide for three years in succession.
Barnsley CAMRA branch secretary, Nigel Croft said, "The warm and friendly atmosphere you get when you come into the pub stays throughout your visit and is so genuine it leaves you wanting to call back for more. And that's before you even get to drink a pint. The changes to the pub over the years have only improved the visitor experience and with four real ales on offer all in excellent condition I only wish I lived next door, which would be about a mile away."
Stephen said, "We are delighted that CAMRA reached out as far as here, and has named the Dog and Partridge, Barnsley's best pub for 2006. Audrey and I would like to thank all our staff for their help. We'd also like to say a thank you to our customers, both the regulars and our passing visitors of maybe once a year without these people we wouldn't be here winning awards".
The presentation for Pub of the Year 2006 was made on Sunday 25th June.
Pub Of The Year 2005
The George and Dragon, Barnsley
It's only been 18 months since Keith and Noreen McManis came out of retirement and start to run the George and Dragon in Barnsley. In this time they have picked up a few awards, not only did they win CAMRA Pub of the Season in Summer 2004, they were recently awarded Runner-Up in the National Avebury Taverns Competition for Pub of the Year, also first Place Winner in the Regional Competition and Highly Commended. This only proves that the George and Dragon is one of Barnsley's best pubs. Our CAMRA judges found no faults with the George & Dragon when out surveying for this year's 2005 Pub of the Year.
Patrons at the George and Dragon are often treated to Bank Holiday (Sunday) BBQ on the new patio. Monday night is pool night, Tuesday darts and Wednesday is general knowledge and picture quiz, all these nights there are free sarnies available.
The pub itself dates back to around 1860 and was part of the artisan terrace houses that covered this area of town, the pool room is one of those houses, this was added on in the 1980's. The pub offers comfortable and clean surroundings with ample seating. The bar offers 3 hand pulled real ales, John Smiths Cask and 2 changing popular guest beers. These beers are served in oversized lined glasses so a full pint is never a problem.
Keith and Noreen however, wouldn't have taken on the challenge of running the pub if it weren't for Mandy their daughter and her husband Darren who offered to help. The presentation evening here at the George and Dragon, on Thursday 30th June at 9pm was a family thank you.
Barnsley CAMRA branch secretary, Nigel Croft said, Keith, Noreen, Mandy and Darren put lots of hard work into keeping the pub a pleasant place to drink fine real ales. The beers are always popular and the pints are always full thanks to their lined glasses. I think this is a great pub, it's like a village local just on the edge of town.
Keith McManis said, We are delighted that CAMRA has chosen the George and Dragon as Barnsley's best pub for 2005, and Noreen and I would like to thank Mandy and Darren for their help. Perhaps most importantly, we'd like to say a big thank-you to our customers, without them we wouldnt be winning any awards.
The Huntsman is situated on Manchester Rd (A628) at Thurlstone. This pub is not new to awards and only in the last edition of the BAR it was awarded Pub of the Season for Spring 2004. Since Dave and Gwynny Fields moved into the Huntsman last year, the pub has started to sparkle. They welcome their visitors and chat if it's not too busy. The whole pub is a haven to be in.
Clarks Classic Blonde 3.8% abv is always available alongside the ever-changing guest beers. The efforts from Dave and his wife have started to reap rewards, with visitors from far and wide calling in for a quality pint of real ale.
Dave said Both myself and my wife Gwynny are delighted to have won Barnsley CAMRA's top pub award and so close to winning Pub of the Season. It's thanks to our customers who keep calling back for more. I would like to thank them for their support.
Barnsley CAMRA made the presentation award to the pub on the evening of Wednesday 30th June.
The bus to catch is the 7:15pm number 21 from Barnsley Interchange. It will also be acoustic night so bring along any instruments you think you can play and join in. I will bring the spoons!
