Cricketers goes from boarded-up backstreet boozer to best in Britain
THE Cricketers Arms in St Helens has won Camra’s prestigious Pub of the Year title writes Neville Grundy.
When Andy and Denise Evans took over the pub in 2013, it was boarded up and hadn’t served real ale since the 1980s.
It is now a popular Merseyside community pub, serving 13 locally-sourced cask ales and up to 20 ciders in the summer.
In addition, it will soon be opening a microbrewery with beers named by the customers.
Customers can take part in a number of social nights including regular beer festivals, dominoes, jam nights, pub quizzes, karaoke and pool teams, as well as enjoy the new whisky and gin bar.
The Cricketers Arms regularly wins local Camra awards, but has never won a national title before.
Paul Ainsworth, Camra’s National Pub of the Year coor- dinator said: “After winning the regional award in both 2015 and 2016, it’s a well deserved third time lucky for the Cricketers to be named Camra’s national Pub of the Year.
“In less than five years, Andy and Denise have converted a boarded-up pub on the brink of closure into a true destination pub for beer lovers across the country.
“What impressed me the most is that the Cricketers is a genuine community pub where people from all walks of life come together to socialise.
“It is a shining example of how a pub which seems destined for closure can have its fortunes turned around when in the right hands.”
Andy Evans said: “We are over the moon to be named the top pub in the country after just a few short years of renovations.
“We’ve done everything we can to make this a welcoming community pub and still have exciting developments ahead of us.
“As well as expanding the beers available, we created a beer garden and put greens in the ground, and have big plans to install a microbrewery this year.
“We are very proud to be part of the cask ale scene and look forward to celebrating with our locals.”
Pubs in the competition are selected by Camra volunteers on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, community focus and, most importantly, beer quality.
Real ale and cider festival at every JD Wetherpoons: March 14-25.
The next local Camra meeting is on Wednesday, March 14 at 8pm in the Zetland Hotel, Zetland Street, Southport.
Interested non-members welcome.
Website: camra.org.uk. www.southport.