The Turks Head named St Helens and Districts CAMRA Pub of the Year for 2023
PRESS RELEASE
10 March 2023
For immediate release
The Turks Head named St Helens and Districts CAMRA Pub of the Year
The Turks Head has been named the St Helens and Districts Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale for 2023, in yet another closely fought contest.
The pub beat off stiff competition from across the borough to be voted the best pub for real ale by St Helens and Districts CAMRA members.
Landlord Daryl Arrowsmith said:
“I’m over the moon we won. It’s great to be shortlisted, but to win it means a lot. It’s all thanks to those CAMRA members who took the time to visit all the pubs and submit their scores, but mostly to our regular customers who are what keep us going. I’d like to thank all our staff as well for all their hard work which has got us to this accolade.”
The Turks Head was one of eight establishments in the borough to be shortlisted – narrowly beating the former National CAMRA Pub of the Year, The Cricketers Arms and last year’s winner the Beer EnGin. The other pubs in the shortlist were The Bard (Prescot), The George, The Star Inn (Rainford), The Skew Bridge Alehouse (Rainhill) and the Watch Maker (Prescot).
Ian Pye, Pubs Officer for St Helens and District CAMRA said:
“Well done to The Turks Head for winning the award for best pub of the year for 2023, it was very well deserved. Once again, it was a hotly contested competition with every single pub in the shortlist worthy of their nominations.
“We are so lucky in our branch to have some of the best real ale pubs in Merseyside. The fact that so many CAMRA members turned out to visit each of the pubs and score them shows a real sense of community, belonging and pride in local pubs selling good quality, and often locally brewed real ale.
“For pubs to make the shortlist they need CAMRA members to score their beers via the What Pub web app throughout the year and the pubs with the highest average score make the shortlist for Pub of the Year. I’m proud of all the pubs that were in the competition.”
The Turks Head is the only pub in St Helens and surrounding areas to have an entry in the Good Beer Guide since the formation of St Helens and Districts CAMRA in 2008.
The Turks Head will now go forward to the Merseyside Pub of the Year competition.
Chair of St Helens and Districts CAMRA, Gillian Yates said:
“This year is our 15th anniversary of being our own branch – previously we were part of Liverpool and Districts CAMRA. It’s wonderful to have so many great real ale pubs in our area that we can really celebrate and, even though we have sadly seen the demise of some pubs in our area over the years, we have also seen the emergence of new pubs selling good quality real ales.
“We have lots of activities and events planned to celebrate our birthday this year so keep an eye out on our social channels and our website for more information soon.”
Pub of the Year is an annual accolade awarded by the Campaign for Real Ale to the best real ale pub in the district and is voted for by CAMRA members who are asked to visit each pub on the shortlist and score it out of 10 for eight areas – Quality of ale/cider; Promotion/Knowledge of real ale; Cleanliness & Staff Hygiene; Décor/Style & furnishing; Service/welcome/offering; Community focus and atmosphere; Sympathy with CAMRA’s Aims and Overall impression & value.
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
- St Helens CAMRA comes under Merseyside and Cheshire region and currently has over 700 members. It campaigns for quality real ale, cider and perry in thriving pubs across St Helens and advocates pubs and clubs as social centres in the local community and promotes the benefits of responsible social drinking.
- Branch meetings usually take place on the 4th Wednesday of the month. The meetings are informal and fairly short and are a great way to have a general catch up with local brewery, pub, and social news – always held at local pubs that serve real ale.
Pam Pye
Media and Public Affairs Officer
media@sthelens.camra.org.uk
