Old Fighting Cocks named Telford and East Shropshire CAMRA Pub of the Year
The Old Fighting Cocks in Oakengates has been awarded the title of Telford and East Shropshire CAMRA Pub of the Year.
Licensee David Goldingay was presented with the award by CAMRA branch chairman Dave Tyler at a ceremony at the popular pub. The Old Fighting Cocks will now be entered into the CAMRA regional final, battling it out against 26 other West Midlands ale houses.
Part of the Project William initiative, which sees Everards collaborate with independent brewers to transform closed or struggling pubs, the Old Fighting Cocks is a joint venture between Everards and Ironbridge Brewery. The CAMRA award is the first for the pub, after being shortlisted for the same accolade last year.
The Old Fighting Cocks offers 10 hand pulls, made up of three choices from the Ironbridge Brewery, two Everards ales, four guest ales and a cider. The Project William initiative allows David to swap guest ales with other Project William micro-brewers, providing customers with an original and varied selection of ales, and allowing Ironbridge Brewery to offer its beers further afield.
David added, “Project William allows us to sell ales from other independent breweries at the same prices, which is great for our customers who want to try something new.”
The voting criteria for the CAMRA award was based on quality of beer, customer service, appeal to different age groups, atmosphere and enjoyment. The Old Fighting Cocks scored highly on all counts to claim its first CAMRA Pub of the Year title.
The Old Fighting Cocks is the latest in a number of Project William pubs to win a CAMRA award. The Seven Stars in Rugby and The Albion in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, which are joint ventures between Everards and B & T Brewery, have both been awarded Pub of the Year titles by their respective CAMRA branches
