CAMRA’s Yorkshire Club of the Year award
The Wortley Men’s Club in Wortley has been named ‘Yorkshire Club of the Year 2016’ and is now celebrating a hat-trick of wins after also taking the prestigious title in 2014 and 2015.
The club’s run of success actually started four years’ ago when it finished runner-up in 2013. It was particularly successful in 2015 when it went on to win the title of National Club of the Year 2015. The club is situated in a village that is just over 8 miles away from Barnsley in South Yorkshire. It is run by Nigel & Teresa Pickering, who said they were delighted to have won again.
The club is described in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2016 as: “Originally the estate reading rooms, the opulent interior and exterior feature exposed timber frames, ornate ceilings, wooden panelling and a real fire.” Timothy Taylor Landlord is on sale regularly, and two guest ales are obtained from local and national breweries. A changing real cider is always available.
CAMRA’s Yorkshire Regional Director, Kevin Keaveny, said “This third win in a row shows the club’s continued commitment to high standards. It also shows that a club in a village can thrive if the management offer the members the products, facilities, and level of service that they require.”
The Tap Room in York was the Runner–up in the competition. The Tap Room is nestled inside the York Brewery in Toft Green, which is only 10 minutes walk from the railway station. It is managed by Matthew Moore, and sells a good selection of the brewery’s award winning beers.
The Licensees of both clubs will be presented with framed certificates on dates to be arranged in October. Peter Goddard, CAMRA’a Deputy Regional Director, will do the presentation to the Wortley Men’s Club. Kevin Keaveny, CAMRA’s Regional Director, will do the presentation to The Brewery Tap Room.
The eleven clubs nominated for this year’s prestigious title were visited by five judges over a four month period. Each nomination was scored against strict criteria that included an emphasis on the Quality of Real Ale. Also considered were Atmosphere, Style/Decor, Service and Welcome, Value for Money, and Alignment with CAMRA’s Principles,
The other nominations for the title were: Guiseley Factory Workers’ Club, Guiseley; Armitage Bridge Club, Armitage Bridge; Crookes Social Club, Sheffield; Alverthorpe Working Men’s Club, Alverthorpe; Concertina Band Club, Mexborough; Hanging Heaton Cricket Club, Batley; Three Links Club, Skipton; Wickersley Old Village Cricket Club, Wickersley; Crossing Club, Grosmont.