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Best Pub in the West

Spotlight on the Old Spot

Last Updated: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1997. The Citizen, STROUD

A DURSLEY pub has made it four out of six for Gloucestershire after picking up the Campaign for Real Ale's Pub of the Year award in the South West.

The Old Spot Inn has been voted the regional winner for 1997 and now goes through to the national finals. It is the fourth time in six years a Gloucestershire pub has won.

Previous winners have been the New Inn at Waterley Bottom, the Red Hart Inn, Blaisdon, and the Boat Inn, Ashleworth.

The Camra awards centre on quality of ale, value for money and cleanliness. Keg beer, piped music, and fruit machines are frowned on.

Peter Bridle, regional director of Camra, said: "The county of Gloucestershire should be very proud of pubs such as this. "To produce four regional winners in six years reflects the high standards of many of the pubs in the county."

The pub has been run by Ric and Ellie Sainty, pictured, since 1993- They purchased it in a run down state before setting about transforming it.

Reproduced courtesy of The Citizen - 16th Dec 1997.