'Small gem' wins back-to-back pub awards

A TRADITIONAL Sheffield boozer has made history by being crowned national pub of the year for the second time in a row.

Kelham Island Tavern, described as a "small gem", was awarded the title for 2009 by Camra, the Campaign For Real Ale.

The pub got the same award in 2008, making it the first pub in Camra's history to win its most coveted accolade in consecutive years. Only two other pubs have won the award twice: the Fat Cat in Norwich (1998, 2004) and the Swan in Little Totham, Essex (2002, 2005).

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Pubs are judged on a number of criteria, such as the quality of the beer, atmosphere, customer service and all-round value of the pub visit.

The competition is overseen by Camra's 110,000-strong membership.

The pub was rescued from dereliction in 2002 and now boasts 10 permanent handpumps and an award-winning beer garden. It was selected as Camra's national pub of the year in 2008 after previously picking up many local and regional awards.

Praising the pub for its historic achievement, Julian Hough, Camra pubs director, said: "The Kelham Island Tavern holds a remarkable record in Camra's pub competitions, bearing in mind the pub only opened in 2002.

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With so many fantastic community pubs in Sheffield, it's difficult enough to be crowned the best in the Steel City, let alone in the whole of the UK.

"The pub's success is thoroughly deserved due to its high attention to detail, service to the surrounding community, and quality in all areas, not least in the beer. The owners have today written their names in Camra's history books and are continuing to demonstrate how to run a thriving pub business in the current climate."

Trevor Wraith, Kelham Island Tavern licensee, said: "We are once again overwhelmed at the judge's results and delighted to be awarded Camra's top prize for the second year running. It's truly a great achievement and something we never dreamt of when we first opened.

"Winning last year only made us work harder to meet and beat people's expectations, with people travelling from all over the UK to visit us.

"With this award, our aim is that we maintain our high standards and continue to fulfil people's high hopes of our pub."

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