Everards Brewery has been presented with CAMRA’s prestigious Bill Squires Award for its work supporting microbrewers, championing cask ale and reviving pubs. It is the first time the award has been presented in ten years.
The winner is voted for by CAMRA branches in the East Midlands and the accolade very rarely given. CAMRA presented it to Everards in recognition of its Project William scheme, where Everards teans up with smaller brewers and ‘cask ale champions’ to breathe new life into closed or previously unsustainable pubs.
Pictured at the presentation are: Richard Everard, chairman, Everards Brewery; beer writer Roger Protz; Keith Bott, of SIBA and Titanic Brewery; Stephen Gould, managing director, Everards Brewery; and Carl Brett, regional director, CAMRA East Midlands
Project William has led to the resurrection of 29 pubs in the Midlands so far, working in tandem with ten local brewers. Of those 29, 15 were closed before Everards invested in them, and 17 have gone on to win CAMRA pub of the year awards.
Presenting the award at Nottingham’s Sir John Borlase Warren pub, CAMRA East Midlands regional director, Carl Brett, said: “We have seen Project William develop and grow right across our region. We see how this scheme supports microbrewers and gives pub customers a fantastic choice of local ales in pubs that may not still be going without it. Our members felt that this commitment needed to be recognised and we are pleased to present it to Everards.”
Everards chairman, Richard Everard, said: “This award will take pride of place in the brewery. We are passionate about great pubs and great beer, and Project William gives us an opportunity to deliver both for local communities.
“We would like to thank all the breweries and cask ale champions who work alongside us and we look forward to continuing Project William for many years. We hope Project William gives some of our partners the opportunity to become fifth-generation brewers, just like ourselves!”
Also at the presentation was Morning Advertiser beer writer and Good Beer Guide editor, Roger Protz, who highlighted the fact that cask ale accounts for 65% of Project Willliam pubs’ sales.
Titanic Brewery founder, Keith Bott, was present, too, was present too, representing SIBA. Project William is especially significant for Keith as Titanic Brewery was Everards’ first Project William partner.
