Britain’s Pubs

In 2008, The Old Spot Inn in Dursley, Gloucestershire was named Britain’s Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale. Located in the gorgeous Cotswolds, The Old Spot Inn is a century old and was named for a local breed of pig. The pub is well liked for its fine selection of local ales, food offerings and friendly atmosphere. The owner, Ric Sainty, prided The Old Spot Inn with being a throwback to the good ol’ days when pubs were meant for drink and conversation- no fruit machines or jukeboxes found here.

One of the reasons CAMRA cites for choosing The Old Spot Inn is its dedication to ales from local breweries. Every month the pub rotates its selection while leaving a few old standby’s for the regulars who like consistency. And if it’s pub grub you want The Old Spot Inn has a nice selection of English foods on menu, though I must confess I giggled a bit when I saw chicken fajitas listed first on the entrees. (I’ve been away from Britain for too long.) But if you think you can just drop in for a quick bite, think again- all the exposure from the Pub of the Year Award has resulted in more visitors, so booking is highly recommended. Fame has its price you know.

Sadly, Ric Sainty died unexpectedly last July, just months after winning the award. There is a lovely tribute to him on the website and you can also see him featured on the video in the Times Online article linked at the top of this post. The pub’s website also features a photo gallery including shots of the garden area which is especially beautiful. And the accolades continue-The Old Spot Inn is currently featured in the 2009 Good Beer Guide.