CAMRA Pub of the Year revealed: from boarded-up boozer to beer destination in just 5 years

Tomé Morrissy-Swan
Updated
The Cricketers Arms in St Helen's has picked up CAMRA's Pub of the Year title - The Cricketers Arms
The Cricketers Arms in St Helen's has picked up CAMRA's Pub of the Year title - The Cricketers Arms

A Merseyside pub which faced closure just five years ago has picked up the prestigious CAMRA Pub of the Year award. The Cricketers Arms in St Helen's will today receive the prize, after being chosen by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). 

It's been a tough time for the pub industry, with one in three British pubs closing since the 1970s. Back in 2013, when owners Andy and Denise Evans took over the pub, it was boarded up, and hadn't served a cask ale since the 1980s. Over half a decade, the pair have managed to transform it into a stalwart of the local community. 

The Cricketers Arms offers an impressive range of social events, from traditional pub activities - quizzes, pool and live music - to whisky and gin bars (tapping into our nation's love affair with the spirit). 

But its main draw, inevitably, is beer. There are always 13 cask ales available showcasing breweries all over the UK, including five session pale ales, two medium bitters, IPAs, porters, stouts and lagers. Ten ciders are available year-round, with 20 in the summer. 

Cricketers Arms St Helen's - Credit: The Cricketers Arms
13 rotating cask beers are on offer at the Cricketers Arms Credit: The Cricketers Arms

It's the extensive range which has helped the Cricketers Arms win St Helens CAMRA Pub of the Year four times, Merseyside CAMRA Pub of the Year three times, and finish runner up in the National Pub of the Year in 2017.

Not content with such a fine selection, the pub has plans for an on-site microbrewery, and customers will be able to name the beers, highlighting its close connection to the community. 

Owner Andy Evans said: "We are over the moon to be named the top pub in the country after just a few short years. We've done everything we can to make this a welcoming community pub. We are very proud to be part of the cask ale scene and look forward to celebrating with our locals." 

Paul Ainsworth, who coordinated the awards, was impressed by the Cricketers Arms' community feel and regeneration. "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", he explained.

Cricketers Arms - Credit: The Cricketers Arms
The Cricketers Arms: a traditional, cosy pub in St Helen's Credit: The Cricketers Arms

"What impressed me 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." 

Pubs across the country were judged on atmosphere, decor, service and community focus. But beer, of course, was the most important category. The Cricketers Arms survived an exhaustive process in order to beat off stiff competition. In November 2017, CAMRA named its top four pubs in the UK. Other than the Cricketers Arms, finalists included Weavers Real Ale House in Kidderminster, the Stanford Arms in Lowestoft, who are the three runners-up.

With the craft beer revolution showing no signs of abating, the triumph shows there is still a place for the traditional, community-focused local pub.

CAMRA best regional pubs