Express & Star

Punters unite to celebrate Stourbridge pub's win

PUNTERS came together to raise a glass in celebration after a pub was named one of the top spots in the region.

Published
The Cat Inn was named Dudley & South Staffordshire Pub of the Year

Stourbridge's The Cat Inn won praise after it was named Dudley and South Staffordshire's pub of the year by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Customers raised their favourite tipple as staff at the Bridgnorth Road pub were handed their accolade on Monday.

Dan Hicks, who has been manager of the pub for six years, said: "We feel extremely proud and elated.

"I think we won because we are a traditional pub, a really welcoming country pub, with open fires. Everybody seems to really love it. It's very quirky.

"The customers are really happy. They all came out to support us when we were presented with the certificate, It was great."

The 300-year-old pub is now in the running to be crowned the West Midlands' best when it competes in the regional finals.

Mr Hicks, who lives above the pub with wife Aimee and three-year-old son Harvey, said CAMRA had named The Cat Inn South Staffordshire's best for the past five years.

But it was the first time it was named pub of the year for the wider Dudley and South Staffordshire area.

Mr Hicks, 43, said: "It's been great working here. It's a busy pub and it's hard work. It's my life. It would be great of we won the regional finals.

"A lot of the judges haven't come to our pub before so hopefully they will come in and enjoy it here.

"What the future holds, is to keep growing, refurbishing the pub and hopefully winning more awards."

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