Express & Star

Hat-trick for Waggon and Horses

A Halesowen pub is celebrating a hat-trick of pub of the year awards from the Campaign for Real Ale.

Published
Tim Cadwell, chairman of Stourbridge and Halesowen Camra, presented Dawn Taylor and Michael O'Neill with the award

The Waggon and Horses in Stourbridge Road was the Stourbridge and Halesowen branch of the Campaign for Real Ale's champion pub for 2019 _ the third year in a row it has been judged best.

The pub is part of Black Country Ales and is run by Mick O’Neill and Dawn Taylo, who previously ran the Court House in Dudley town centre for the chain.

Chairman of Stourbridge and Halesowen Camra branch Tim Cadwell presented Dawn Taylor and Michael O'Neill with the award

The branch held its May meeting in the pub when chairman Tim Cadwell presented the award certificate.

"Well done to Dawn and Mick on winning this award for the third successive year. It was awarded following a thorough judging process which began with nominations forpub of the year' being made by ordinary Camra members.

Chairman of Stourbridge and Halesowen Camra branch Tim Cadwell presented Dawn Taylor and Michael O'Neill with the award

"These were then visited by branch volunteer judges and scored according to approved national Camra guidelines, such as welcome, decoration and quality of real ale.

"The standard of pubs nominated was very high again this year, and it shows that despite a national background of pub closures, there are still some excellent places to drink a great pint of real ale in our region," said Mr Cadwell.

Chairman of Stourbridge and Halesowen Camra branch Tim Cadwell presented Dawn Taylor and Michael O'Neill with the award

The Waggon and Horses will now go through to be judged on a regional basis in the hope of progressing in the national Camra competition.

The pub dates from the 1850s and has been renovated by BCA.