Former barber shop claims prestigious Pub of Year title

Alexandra Wood

A PUB that was once a barber’s has proved it is a cut above the rest by taking the title Kingston upon Hull Pub of the Year 2009.

Walters in Scale Lane – whose name was taken from a barber shop in the same premises in the 1820s – was voted a winner by the Hull and East Yorkshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

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The George Hotel, in Land of Green Ginger, run by Dean Kirk and Paul Crosskill, was runner-up.

Walters, run by Alan and Chrissy Murphy, who also own nearby Nellie’s Bar, is described in the new Camra Good Beer Guide 2010 as a “haven” in an area in the Old Town “over populated by fashion bars”.

The bar, converted from a defunct restaurant, pulls off a rare feat: offering cask ale in a modern, contemporary environment.

Mr Murphy said: “People associate cask ale with spit and sawdust pubs, a lot of old drunks at the bar and dirty toilets.

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“We want a venue that’s really smart and clean and we want to be able to pitch real ale at younger people – and yes, it is going really well. At least 50 per cent of our clientele is people you wouldn’t be expecting to drink cask ale.”

Branch chairman Alan Canvess said: “Both pubs have not only shown a high consistency of standards over the last 12 months, but also over the last two years, as they were both also nominated for the 2008 title.”

Mr Canvess will present framed certificates to the licensees of both pubs on Saturday night.

The winner of the East Riding village Pub of the Year for the second year running was the Plough Inn at Hollym, run by Steve and Sue Martine.

Town Pub of the Year was the Green Dragon, last year’s runner up, which is on Saturday Market in Beverley. The pub is run by Alan and Glyn Clarke.

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