'It's down to our excellent team behind the bar' - boss of Dudley's pub of the year explains his success
Real-ale buffs raised a glass to a famous Black Country brewery taphouse after it won a prestigious award.
The Vine Inn at Brierley Hill was awarded the Campaign for Real Ale's Dudley and South Staffordshire pub of the year award.
Branch chairman John Corser presented the award to Tom Comyns, the landlord of the pub in Delph Road, better known as the Bull & Bladder..
The award is based on scores for branch pub beers over the course of a year and the assessment of judges in a final round of judging of the finalists.
The Batham's pubs scored high marks for standard of service and community involvement.
Runner-up was the Beacon Hotel in Bilston Street, Sedgley, which won the 2024 award, while the Bird in Hand, Wordsley - also a former winner - in third place.
Mr Comyns, manager for seven-and-a-half years said the pub's success was down to his excellent team behind the bar and his regulars.
The branch's country pub of the year was presented to the Cross Inn in Kinver.
The Bull and Bladder is next to the Batham's Brewery and offers hot and cold food Monday to Friday from 12 noon to 2pm.
The lounge bar was originally a butcher's shop before it became a pub in 1835. The Vine was bought by Batham's in 1905 and it was rebuilt in 1912 when the tower brewery was also constructed.
It was previously branch pub of the year in 2016.
