National Pubs Week is to start with a bang on Saturday with pubs up and down the country launching a series of events.
The week, organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), saw an early start as Norfolk pub the Fat Cat was named the organisation's Pub of the Year. The pub, in Norwich, has become the only pub in the competition's history to take the title for a second time.
Owner Colin Keatley (picrtured) said: "To be voted best pub in Britain for the first time in 1998 was some achievement but to run and own the only pub in Britain that has won this award twice is just unbelievable."
Mr Keatley is planning to open a new pub in Norwich later this year and add a small brewery alongside to brew some of his own beer.
To coincide with National Pubs Week, CAMRA is giving away 10 copies of Cellarmanship - a guide to serving real ale - to readers of The Publican.
The guide dispels the myths about the difficulties of cask beer and gives step-by-step instructions of everything from ordering, caring for, and serving quality real ale.
The Publican is giving copies to the first 10 people to write in. Write to Pubs Week competition, The Publican, United Advertising Publications, 5th Floor, Quantum House, 19 Scarbrook Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1LX.
Pubs Week facts: did you know?
- The highest pub in Britain is the Tan Hill Inn, Keld, North Yorkshire, which is 1732 feet above sea level
- The most popular pub name is the Crown having recently taken over from the Red Lion
- The Nutshell in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and the Smiths Arms in Godmanstone, Dorset, both claim to be the smallest pub in Britain. In 1982 the rival landlords decided to settle the matter with a football match which the Nutshell won.
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