Regulars, CAMRA members, and visitors from far and wide came together at The Bailey Head in Oswestry yesterday for a special celebration.
The occasion was the presentation of a certificate for becoming one of four national finalists in the Campaign for Real Ale’s Pub of the Year award.
“To come in the top four in the whole of the UK out of 40,000 pubs is a massive achievement,” said Shelly Bentley, CAMRA’s West Midlands regional director.
“The Bailey Head has won through several rounds: Shrewsbury and West Shropshire, Shropshire, the West Midlands region, and then the super regional round, to reach the final four.
“From the first time I visited to judge it in the West Midlands round I knew it was special, not just for the beer quality, but the atmosphere, the knowledge of the staff, and the cleanliness.”
The certificate was received by landlord and landlady Duncan Borrowman and Grace Goodlad (above). Grace said: “I would like to thank our great staff and the regulars who come in and make the pub what it is all year round.”
Duncan thanked the many visitors who had travelled from Shrewsbury, Wolverhamton, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Stratford-upon-Avon, and points between.
The bar included three special beers brewed by Grace and Duncan with Stonehouse Brewery in Oswestry, Castle Rock Brewery in Nottingham and Riverhead Brewery in Yorkshire.
