Branch Pub & Club Awards
Somerset CAMRA Pubs of the Year 2023.
15 Years in the Good Beer Guide for the Esplanade Club in Watchet
Phil Emond presented Roy and Helen with the certificate for 15 consecutive years in the Good Beer Guide, and also surprised them with the award for Somerset CAMRA Club of the Year 2023.
Pebbles Tavern in Watchet is Somerset Cider Pub of the Year 2023
Somerset “local” makes news winning 30-year CAMRA real ale award
With its slate floor worn down by generations of drinkers, authentic rustic bar and cosy rooms, whilst the scent of wood burning fires mixes pleasantly with the aroma of delicious freshly home-cooked food, the Halfway House at Pitney is considered a proper “local” by all those who visit this classic Somerset pub.
The Halfway House at Pitney has achieved the record of being listed every year over the past 30 years in the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) highly acclaimed Good Beer Guide, now in its 50th year of publication. They won the title of National CAMRA Pub of the Year in 1996.
Joining other pubs in CAMRA’s South West Region that have been recognised annually for the last 30 years, the Halfway House – named because it is located midway between Langport and Somerton on the B3513 - will receive a special award from Somerset Branch of CAMRA on Saturday 28 January, 2023, at 13.00hrs.
A direct Bus Service 54 stops outside the Halfway House between Taunton & Somerton, with connections in Somerton from Glastonbury and Yeovil.
Owners Lucie and Mark David said, “We’re delighted to be awarded this incredible 30-year award by CAMRA, and thank all the real ale enthusiasts who have nominated us year after year. We’re so proud of our pub and it’s heritage, and really thanks are due to the previous custodians who have maintained such high standards, ensuring that this ‘local legend’ retains its widespread appeal as a proper old-fashioned pub serving excellent locally brewed beer, Cider and Perry.”
Lucie and Mark David, with their son George and daughter Jess, have recently bought the pub but the family association with it goes back much longer. “The Halfway has pretty much been a part of my whole life,” says Lucie, whose parents were local farmers who used to take the family there in her youth. The couple were the pub’s managers for the last two years – successfully running it all through lockdown – and Lucie has also been the chef at the pub for [??] years. When it became available to buy in [when?] 2022, the family jumped at the chance of owning and living at the pub.
Dating back 150 years when it was originally a cider house, the Halfway House has only belonged to three families in the last 30 years. Formerly an uninspiring traditional roadside inn, the Halfway House was purchased by real ale enthusiast Julian Litchfield in 1992. Ripping up the threadbare carpets and tired decorations, Julian and his family created a minimalistic chic and down-to-earth ‘local’ pub – with flagstone floors, whitewashed walls, large sociable wooden tables and pews, a few comfy sofas and above all, a welcoming atmosphere for everyone from muddy-footed farmers, to young mothers with their children, smart-suited businessmen, walkers and their dogs, cyclists, holiday makers and passers-by.
With its focus firmly on a serving a wide choice of locally brewed ales, ciders and perry, with simple but delicious home-cooked food, the pub eschews any forms of alternative entertainment –no TV, music, electronics, or games rooms. Entertainment and atmosphere is provided by the happy hum of conversation, with a choice of books, traditional board games, cards and pub quizzes for entertainment should conversation ever run dry.
Owner Mark David says the family are determined to maintain the family-run, freehouse popularity of the pub. “This pub is part of our lives – my in-laws Hughie and Greeta drank here, my wife has worked here for over 10 years, and our youngsters grew up helping out in the kitchen and then, when old enough, serving behind the bar. It’s now a family-run affair, and one we’re really proud to be part of.”
Whilst maintaining the pub’s much-loved traditionalism, the family have made some subtle developments inside and outside. Lucie has increased the choice and size of portions of the food, with newly-popular Sunday lunches followed by roast potatoes and lumps of cheese put out on the bar when the kitchen closes. There’s also now a Hut, providing overnight accommodation for up to two people, and an outside heated marquee for events. “The marque was put up during Covid, and proved really popular, so we’ve kept it and it now means we can host larger events outside throughout the year, such as wedding parties, anniversaries and even wakes,” says Lucie. “But above all, we’re maintaining the family-run, welcoming and friendly atmosphere of a proper local – the qualities that have been with us for the last 30 years, and hopefully stay with us for the next 30!”
Somerset's Pub of the Year 2022
Somerset CAMRA branch Pub Of The Year winner presentation to Crossways Inn in West Huntspill on St George's Day 2022.
Here are Somerset's Pub of the Year results for 2022. The shortlisted pubs were judged by five members of our branch committee using CAMRA recommended guidelines, as also used for regional and national judging stages of the competition.
Winner: Crossways Inn, West Huntspill
Runner Up: New Inn, Halse
3rd Place: Etsome Arms, Somerton
Somerset Cider Pub of the Year goes to Pebbles Tavern in Watchet.
Formal presentations of the Award Certificates were held on Saturday lunchtimes between mid-March and Easter 2022. Pub details are here:
https://whatpub.com/pubs/TAU/193/crossways-inn-west-huntspill
https://whatpub.com/pubs/TAU/326/new-inn-halse
https://whatpub.com/pubs/TAU/638/etsome-arms-somerton
Wyvern Club is Somerset Club of the Year 2022
Somerset Branch CAMRA Club of the year 2022 goes to the Wyvern Club in Taunton. The Clubs great record of presentations are as follows;
Club of Season 2013. Club of Year 2002/3/4/5/14/16/19/20/22 Joint 2017 Runner Up 2018 SW Region 2002/4. National Runner Up 2004.
15 Years in the Good Beer Guide for the Top Ship at Porlock
Former Somerset Branch Membership Secretary Mike Rourke presents a Certificate to Royston Connor at The Ship Inn in Porlock Village, Top Ship, for 15 years in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide.
Royston said he had no idea of how long it had been and it was a pleasure to receive it on behalf of all the staff.