British Pub Week toasts success

Lee de Villiers and wife Keris, of the Old Sargeant in Wandsworth, south-west London, reported a “fantastic week” as their pub hosted a number of events to celebrate.

The pub put on a beer festival during which customers were offered a tour of the pub’s brewery, and the licensees ensured everything served throughout the week was British.

A Halloween party kicked off the festivities including live music, fancy dress, a pumpkin-carving competition and a real fortune-teller installed in the pub’s ‘love shack’.

“We always support British Pub Week and used to host our own week before the official one began,” said Lee. “It just helps to show people that we love Great Britain, and people are now more aware that we stock purely British produce. It has been a fantastic week.”

Keith Barnes, of the Ancient Mariner Inn, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, tapped into his pub’s historic maritime links.

“Lord Nelson was born just around the corner and we had Nelson’s Shantymen come in to perform some of their seafaring songs. That went down an absolute storm.

“Being called the Ancient Mariner, and located close to the sea, we offered food and drinks with a maritime theme and put on some new cask ales. I am pleased that we have done so well.

“We have had good honest support from locals. It is about trying to make them aware of the pub.”

Meanwhile, the Moorings Pub & Kitchen in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, invited MP Craig Whittaker to pour the 1,000th pint of Moorings Best Bitter — a beer specially brewed by Greene King for the pub to mark its 100% score from real ale accreditation body, the Cask Marque Trust.

Whittaker said: “British Pub Week is a fantastic initiative, helping to raise awareness of the wealth of excellent pubs we have in Britain.”