Moorhouse’s Brewery’s Pendle Witch pub in Atherton, Greater Manchester, has worked its spell on real-ale enthusiasts to win Pub of the Year from the local Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) group.
Members of the South East Lancashire branch voted the popular community pub into the top spot for the quality of the award winning Pendle witches themed ales – including the much acclaimed Black Cat and Pendle Witches Brew* – atmosphere and welcome.
Pendle Witch Landlady Joan Houghton receives the Camra award from Steve Prescott, branch chairman watched by Moorhouse's MD David Grant (left) and chairman Bill Parkinson.
The accolade comes soon after popular licensee Joan Houghton also won the highly prestigious Cask Marque recognition- awarded to individual publicans for consistent cask-conditioned beer quality. This success follows a major investment in the Pendle Witch that upgraded the cellar environment as well as providing a new dining conservatory and improvements to the popular pub garden.
The Pendle Witch, just off the town centre in Warburton Place, is described by the Camra Good Beer Guide 2010 as a ‘hidden gem’.
David Grant, Moorhouse’s managing director, said: “Joan was among our licensees that achieved the Cask Marque standard with flying colours. So the Camra award was extremely well deserved and further evidence of her dedication, which is critical to the success of our famous cask ales.”