District awards trip
On Saturday 14 July, a handful of branch members headed out to the Peak District to celebrate a couple of our more rural pubs, with the Spring 2018 District Pub of the Season and the District Pub of the Year 2018 presentations both on the agenda.
We were unable to secure a minibus for the trip this time, so we kicked off with a short hop on the number 65 bus to Stoney Middleton for the first presentation at the Moon Inn. The pub was very quiet when we arrived but the staff were friendly and the ale was well kept. Stancill India was the pick of the three beers on offer. Branch chairman Glyn Mansell presented the certificate to manager Kevin Bite and his team.
The next stop on our route was this year’s District Pub of the Year, the Red Lion at Litton. It was back on the 65 for the second leg of the journey, which again handily dropped us right outside the door of the pub. The Red Lion was a complete contrast to the Moon, full of customers enjoying their lunch on a hot summer’s day. There were four real ales available here, including one of the first beers I ever tried growing up in East Lancashire, Moorhouse’s Pride of Pendle. Chairman Glyn made a rare outdoors presentation to landlady Jeanne, who was delighted with her award.
Well done once again to both pubs on their awards!
Dominic Nelson