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Pub Guide

King Of The Belgians - Hartford

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Pubs of the Year 2006

The Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA has this year selected two pubs to be awarded Pubs of the Year 2006. One, the Chequers, Little Gransden, is an archetypal rural pub. The other, the Oliver Cromwell, St Ives is a perfect example of a town pub.

CAMRA gives this annual award to the pub that it judges to provide the widest appeal for its combination of good beer, atmosphere, style, service and value. On this occasion, the judges were unable to identify one single pub that stood out above all the other nominations, and felt justified in making two awards.

The Huntingdonshire branch is announcing these awards to coincide with CAMRA's National Pubs Week which will run from 18-26 February.

Chequers, Little Gransden

Chequers, Little Gransden presentation - Click to enlarge

Bob and Wendy Mitchell have owned and run the Chequers, Little Gransden for 12 years and the pub has been in the Mitchell family since 1950.

Bob has a passion for real ale, and as well as the house beer Oakham JHB, at least one unusual guest beer is always available. If Bob wants a beer from a brewery who can’t deliver, he’ll drive to pick up the casks, even when the brewery is on the south coast.

Bob also has a passion for good food. His hog roasts are legendary; Friday night is fish night at the Chequers, and on a recent visit, Bob had organised a home made pork pie competition, which he and numerous pub regulars took part in (Bob’s pork pie won first prize).

The cosy public bar with its plain wooden seating and open fire is an unaltered gem and there is a choice of two other rooms. There is always a warm welcome at this family run pub, from both Bob and Wendy, and the village regulars.

A well researched and documented history of the pub displayed around the walls makes interesting reading. Bob is well known for his keen sense of humour. A roaring fire in the public bar will stop you from propping up the bar for too long. Check out all the beer festival glasses - a sign of a true enthusiast.

There was a presentation of a framed certificate to licensees Wendy and Bob Mitchell on the occasion of the branch’s post Christmas party on Friday 13th January.

Oliver Cromwell, St Ives

Chequers, Little Gransden presentation - Click to enlarge

The Oliver Cromwell is a highly regarded St Ives pub on Wellington Street, close to the old river quay. It was built as a cottage and in the 18th century was known as the Feathers. It became a beer house in the 1840s and beer was brewed on the premises until 1920. This warm, friendly wood-panelled bar provided highly congenial surroundings for St Ivians for many years under the ownership of David and Pat Livingston-Spence.

A change of style followed the arrival of Gerry Schonfeldt as its new owner in 2002. A new non-smoking area features a glass floor with a view into an old well, revealed during renovation work and possibly once used for the brewery that operated here. A new kitchen was also provided and a varied and popular lunchtime menu includes fish dishes and Mexican style food.

Other than these new parts of the operation the interior has been changed little in recent decades and overall the Oliver Cromwell provides a stylish environment that remains the epitome of classic old style town pubs. But of course the high quality beer is the main reason for the accolade. Adnams Bitter makes a welcome appearance in St Ives as a permanently stocked line, and there is always one other Adnams beer, either Broadside or the current seasonal ale. Oakham JHB and Woodforde’s Wherry are also a permanent part of the well presented and highly drinkable selection on offer; there are two other guest real ales.

A remarkable feature of the pub that has not changed is its appeal to a wide cross-section of the community. The physical arrangement of the pub encourages sociability, particularly amongst those who choose to occupy the areas around the bar counter. Quiz nights are held monthly on Tuesday nights, and there is acoustic live music on the first and third Thursday evenings each month as well as occasional Sunday afternoon music sessions.