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Pub Guide

Pheasant - Keyston

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Opening Times

Issue 136 Autumn 2008

Download a copy of Opening Times 136 as a PDF file - 1.1 MB

PUBS OF THE YEAR

Huntingdonshire’s Pub of the Year, the Chequers at Little Gransden, has been declared Cambridgeshire Pub of The Year 2008 by CAMRA and will now enter regional and possibly national stages of the Pub of the Year 2009 competition. The national winner will be announced during CAMRA’s Community Pubs Week in February 2009. The 2008 national CAMRA Pub of the Year is the Old Spot Inn at Dursley in Gloucestershire.

Huntingdonshire CAMRA chose two pubs for awards this year because the total scores in the judging were very close for the top two. The Chequers was named as ‘Pub of the Year’ and the Mad Cat at Pidley ‘Most Improved Pub of the Year’.

Chequers, Little Gransden—Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year

The Chequers is a true village local run by the same family for the last 58 years. There are three distinct drinking areas. The unspoilt middle bar, with its wooden bench seating and roaring fire, is a favourite spot to pick up on the local gossip.

Bob and Wendy Mitchell have owned and run the pub for 16 years and Bobs’ late father, Sid, ran it before him for 42 years. The new 'Son of Sid' brewhouse can be viewed from the lounge. It brews for the pub and occasional beer festivals.

The Chequers is now offering up to four home-brewed real ales. A popular regular brew has been the roasty and stout-like Muck Cart Mild (3.5% alcohol by volume) and others have been brewed to celebrate special occasions for some of the locals.

Mad Cat, Pidley—Huntingdonshire ‘Most Improved Pub of the Year’

The Mad Cat at Pidley was taken over last summer by Darren Tomkins and Sinead Nicholson. They redecorated the pub and introduced new food menus with locally sourced ingredients and a range of local real ales on rotation that quickly began to achieve recognition by local beer enthusiasts for their consistent high quality on dispense. This is one big reason why the pub is thriving under its new ownership.

The Mad Cat is a community local on the edge of the fens in a village that is the home of the Pidley Mountain Rescue Team, a charity supporting local disabled people. A sociable bar has a welcoming open fire, crib and dominoes. A separate dining room is popular with villagers and visitors, especially for the Sunday lunch carvery. There is a large garden with a decked patio.

CAMRA gives these annual awards to pubs with the widest appeal for good beer, atmosphere, style, service and value. The Chequers and the Mad Cat excel in all these criteria.