The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) is celebrating after its King and Castle pub at Kidderminster station was named Pub of the Year (Gold Award) by the Wyre Forest branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
The prestigious award follows a rigorous judging process, with pubs first nominated onto a shortlist and then independently assessed by CAMRA members acting as ‘secret shoppers’. Judges considered a wide range of criteria, including drinks quality, staff knowledge, décor and atmosphere, welcome, and community focus.
Wyre Forest CAMRA chair Rob Budworth said:
“There are so many good pubs in Wyre Forest. Over 100 pubs sell beer and probably 30 of them are top real ale pubs that could put them into contention. Unfortunately, we can only have a limited number of winners.”
The SVR’s visitor experience manager Nicky Freeman said:
“Our team has worked incredibly hard to establish the King and Castle as a true community hub, under the leadership of joint managers Chris Dainty and Kat Forty.
“Chris has been instrumental in maintaining exceptional standards across our beer selection, while Kat has transformed the venue’s social offering with a vibrant programme of live music, quizzes and al fresco events on our beautiful station concourse. This award is a fantastic recognition of the whole team’s dedication.”
The King and Castle pub is open Tuesday to Sunday, serving a wide range of real ales, ciders, wines and spirits, with hot food available from 12 noon to 4pm.