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Pub proves it's an ale hot SPOT

by Charlotte Spratt (charlotte.spratt@gloscitizen.co.uk)
Last Updated: TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2006, THE CITIZEN
Internet - www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk

THE Old Spot at Dursley has been voted the runaway winner as the Gloucestershire Pub of the Year.

The accolade from the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has gone to the community pub which caters for all ages in the town and is also a welcome stop-off for walkers.

Landlord Steve Herbert, who has run the Old Spot Inn for the last five years with his partner Belinda, said: "We're delighted. The fact we were a clear winner makes it all the sweeter.

"We're made up that we are going through to the South West round now and we are hopeful. We're up against some very good pubs but you always want to go a bit further and hope to make it."

Four of the Gloucestershire sub-branches of Camra placed the Old Spot first, and the fifth sub-branch had it in second place by a narrow margin.

The pub is on the Cotswold Way walking trail and Mr Herbert said many walkers visit, as well as people visiting for lunch, the older generation and families.

"We serve good, homecooked food here," said Mr Herbert. "It is very health conscious. We don't serve chips. Some pubs you can walk into and just smell grease and the chip fat fryer. But this is a real pub. We have people drinking beer in here so we decided not to fry anything.

"We serve salads, and things like homecooked sausage and mash and fishcakes.

"The pub has always had a really good reputation and we have built on that and taken it to the next level. We always have about eight real ales and a good beer garden."

The pub has been county winner in 1997, when it went on to be national runner-up, and in 2000.

The landlords will be presented with the award on Thursday, when Camra members from around the county will be in attendance.

The runners-up were: Bakers Arms, Broad Campden; Swan Inn, Cheltenham; Berkeley Arms, Tewkesbury; Dick Whittington, Gloucester; and the Twelve Bells, Cirencester.

CAPTION: CHEERS: Steve Herbert, landlord of the Old Spot pub at Dursley, inset, celebrating the Gloucestershire Pub of the Year award.
Picture: Robert Davis

Reproduced courtesy of Citizen - 18th April 2006.