Localness is the key to the Royal Oak on Weymouth’s quayside being named West Dorset Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale [CAMRA.]
“The Pub of the Year award is voted by our 600 members from 258 licensed premises in the area,” says CAMRA Spokesman Michel Hooper-Immins. “They praise the outstanding choice and quality of the local real ales, bubbly Assistant Manager Jenna Wells and the warm atmosphere created by happy local customers. They applaud enterprising initiatives like a pint & a pie and the tasting tray, consisting of three one-third pints, giving a taste of what’s available on the bar that day.”
“I was surprised to see a jar of dog biscuits on the bar,” continues Michel Hooper-Immins, “but what a good idea to encourage dogwalkers into the pub!”
“The Royal Oak has a welcoming and friendly atmosphere with great views across the harbour,” comments Dave Harris, CAMRA’s West Dorset Branch Chairman. “The bar staff are attentive and helpful. Beers are always in good condition- what more do you want?”
Keith Treggiden, General Manager at the Royal Oak, said, “It is a real honour to win this award, especially as we’ve only been trading for 18 months. We owe our success to our great staff team and to our loyal, local drinkers, who have supported us since Day One and helped us to come up with the right selection of beers and ciders.”
“During 2015, we’re planning to put on more special events for customers,” he added, “including a cider festival, a Great British Weekend of local food and drink and a folk festival– with beer, of course.” The Royal Oak already runs a reward scheme, which customers can sign up to on special nights, and then receive 20% off every pint of real ale, as well as discounts on other drinks. The pub also held a “Meet the Brewer” evening with the Dorset Brewing Company, so customers could meet the people behind the beers.
Dorchester-born Jenna Wells is the Assistant Manager, having worked at a number of pubs in the town, including The Globe, House of Sound and the Kings Arms. “I’m so proud and so immensely proud of our team,” says Jenna Wells, “this amazing award is another indication of how well the Royal Oak is doing- all our customers are so relaxed.”
Miss Wells revealed an ambition to be listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, the “bible” of real ale lovers that lists the best pubs in the UK. Now the Royal Oak will be part of the 2016 GBG, due out in September, among 66 of the county’s top real ale pubs. The Royal Oak was built in early Victorian times.
Four real ales from the Dorset Brewing Company at Crossways are served by traditional handpumps at the Royal Oak, on the corner of Custom House Quay and Lower St. Mary Street. This week they are DBC Cobbler, Jurassic Dark, Tom Browns and the seasonal Frosted Jack.Dorset Blue Vinny cheese forms part of the cheese platter. The Royal Oak has live music at weekends and a quiz night in the week.
The Royal Oak now goes forward to the regional CAMRA Pub of the Year competition, against ten other pubs nominated by CAMRA branches in Hampshire, Dorset, the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands and parts of Wiltshire and Somerset. The winner of the regional POTY title goes forward to the National POTY competition, won last year by The Swan With Two Necks in Pendleton, Lancashire.
Last year’s West Dorset POTY title was won by the Bottle Inn at Marshwood and the regional award went to The Lamplighters in St. Helier, Jersey.
The CAMRA certificate was presented at the Dorchester Beer Festival by CAMRA’s Rich Gabe to Royal Oak Manager Keith Treggiden and Assistant Manager Jenna Wells.
Michel Hooper-Immins
