Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Hull & East Yorkshire Branch NEWS RELEASE

Beverley's Hidden Gem is Voted Town Pub of the Year 2004

Issued 15th December 2004

The Woolpack Inn, Beverley, has been named 'Town Pub of the Year 2004' by the Hull & East Yorkshire Branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.

Members voted for their Town Pub of the Year 2004 at the December branch meeting after carefully considering the following criteria: Community Focus, Atmosphere, Campaigning, Quality of Beer, Style/Decor, Service and Welcome; Value for Money.

For the pub to be eligible for the competition the licensee had to be present since the 1st January 2004. In this case the licensee Gerri Curran has been in charge since June 13th 2003. Gerri gained her experience in the trade by working for Tetley's and Allied Domeq.

The pub is a hidden-gem, tucked away near the hospital on Westwood Road. It is described in the 2005 CAMRA Good Beer Guide as: "Located in a Victorian residential street, west of the town centre, this inn started life as a pair of cottages built around 1830. The Woolpack was sensitively restored in 2002, retaining its cosy snug and outside toilets." Until recently the pub was owned by the Burtonwood Pub Group but in early December it was purchased by regional brewer Wolverhampton & Dudley.

The pub is open 6-11 Monday-Friday, 12-3 and 6-11 Saturday, and 12-10.30 on a Sunday. Burtonwood Bitter is the regular beer available alongside two guest beers - one that changes monthly and the other that changes seasonally. Tasty home-made meals, based on fresh produce, are served Wednesday-Saturday, 6-8 plus Sunday roasts (12-2). Booking is advised. The pub hosts a quiz night (wed) and live music on a Sunday evening. Children and dogs are also welcome and the pub has no fruit machine or jukebox. Gerri is ably assisted in the pub by her hard working staff, consisting of Louise, Debbie, Katy, Juliet; Sally, Beatrice and Martin.

Beverley did well in the competition with Hodgsons on Flemingate finishing in second place. The Foundry (no-smoking pub) in Driffield's Market Place finished third.

The 'Town Pub of the Year Award 2004' will be presented to Gerri this Saturday 18th December at around 6.30 p.m., during the branch's Christmas all-day pub crawl in Beverley.