The Bailey Head, in Oswestry, Shropshire, has been named the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) national pub of the year for the first time.
The win is a rags-to-riches success story after the pub’s owners turned what was once a closed local into a haven for the community.
The Bailey Head had been failing under the ownership of a major pub company and was listed by CAMRA as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) to protect it from redevelopment.
Nine years ago, it was bought by Duncan Borrowman and Grace Goodlad who poured their knowledge and passion into transforming the pub. Their dedication means that the Bailey Head has won a staggering roster of awards.
Community and inclusion are at the heart of the pub, and it acts as a hub for locals to come together for good causes through events like their charity pub quizzes and live music.
“We have always had a policy of everyone welcome,” said Duncan. “Any person should feel happy and comfortable coming in by themselves and enjoying a drink, either on their own or chatting to other customers. We thrive on being the heart of the community and a place where people gather to celebrate or commiserate.
“While all of the focus tends to be on us as a couple, this win was also down to our incredible team of welcoming and knowledgeable staff, and to our wonderful regulars who have become very much a community in their own right.”
Aside from providing a welcoming atmosphere, the Bailey Head also boasts an impressive array of cask beer and cider.
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Grace said: “We are thrilled. We hope we can live up to the award. In our wildest dreams we never thought we would win CAMRA pub of the year. From small beginnings nine years ago, we have taken everything one step at a time, through Covid, slowly improving to the point where we now have 12 handpulls serving six cask beers and six ciders and perries, plus 16 other draught lines.
“When we bought the pub nine years ago it was failing and had been listed as an Asset of Community Value by the local CAMRA branch. That listing made it possible for us to save it from potentially becoming housing and turning it into the pub it is today.”
Shrewsbury and West Shropshire CAMRA chairman David Ricketts said: “The story of the Bailey Head, from humble beginnings, proves that any pub can become the best in the UK with some hard graft.
“Huge congratulations to Duncan and Grace and their hard-working team at the pub. We are so proud that our local branch plays host to them, and I hope this win can bring plenty of new visitors to their doorstep.”
