Awards

Trafford & Hulme Branch is fortunate in having a number of Clubs in its area doing an excellent job in selling and promoting quality cask ale. However, it is Flixton Conservative Club who continues to set the benchmark and for that reason they have been selected as the Trafford & Hulme Branch Club of the Year 2015.

T&H Chairman Paul King presenting the award to Nigel & Sharon Porter

The Trafford & Hulme Pub Of The Season for Spring 2015 is The Sedge Lynn, Chorlton-cum-Hardy.

Whilst possibly not having the trendy appeal of some of Chorlton's other bars, the Sedge Lynn sits quietly on Manchester Road selling vast quantities of quality real ales day in day out. Its 12 handpumps will typically feature 8 different real ales alongside two traditional ciders and have seen it become one of JD Wetherspoon's top selling real ale outlets, easily selling more real ale than most of it's competition.

Current manager Kirstin Downham took over 18 months ago having moved from The Kingfisher in Poynton. Local readers may also remember her from Didsbury's Milson Rhodes where she was the original manager in 2010. Since moving to Chorlton, Kirstin has continued the good work of her predecessor Leanne Kempthorne who boosted real ale sales at the pub with a more varied range and much improved quality, taking the pub into the Good Beer Guide in the process. In September last year, the pub was named the North West regional winner for Real Ale in Wetherspoons annual awards.

Deansgate Bar regains top CAMRA award after five year wait

Trafford & Hulme CAMRA has revealed the winners in their annual Pub & Club awards.

The top accolade of Pub Of The Year has been awarded to The Knott on Deansgate, Manchester. Nestled in the railway arches opposite Deansgate railway station, this is the third time the Castlefield bar has taken the top title having won it in both 2009 & 2010 - the latter being on the way to being named Greater Manchester Pub Of the Year in 2010.

The Club Of The Year has been named as Flixton Conservative Club while cider & perry lovers will want to head to Cider Pub Of The Year, The Font on Manchester Road, Chorlton.

The Knott has been a haven for beer fans in the city for over 10 years, leading the way for what has become known as the Craft Beer Revolution. With a selection of 7 cask ales, a wide range of European lagers, craft beers from the UK & abroad and an enviable selection of bottles from around the world, there is no better place in the city for the modern beer lover. The bar supports a wide range of local breweries with long established favourites like Marble Beers and Rochdale\'s Pictish Brewery sharing bar space with some of the most exciting new local breweries like Shindigger and Brewsmith. Add a warm welcome, efficient service and freshly cooked restaurant quality food at pub prices, the bar offers the complete package.

Pipped to the post to end up as runner up was Altrincham\'s Costello\'s Bar - the brewery tap of Dunham Massey Brewing Co - themselves a former winner having taken the title in 2011 & 2012. Chorlton\'s The Beech Inn was third.

John O\'Donnell, spokesman for Trafford & Hulme CAMRA said \"We are very pleased that The Knott has regained the Pub Of The Year title - they have long been one of the very best pubs across the area and have been in the running for the award year on year. Ahead of their time when they opened, they have kept moving as the city\'s beer market has evolved, offering craft beers long before others caught on but all on the solid foundations of well kept real ale.\"

Alongside the Pub Of The Year announcement, the branch has also confirmed their Club Of The Year award has gone to Flixton Conservative Club for the third year in a row. The private members club on Flixton Road has cemented a considerable reputation for choice and quality of its real ales under the stewardship of Nigel & Sharon Porter, a feature which has helped the club grow its membership and customer base at a time when other clubs are struggling.

Finally, the Cider Pub Of The Year is The Font on Manchester Road Chorlton-cum-Hardy, recognised for offering four traditional ciders & perries on draught at all times alongside the widest range of bottled ciders that you will find anywhere in the city. The award marks the third time in a row that the Font chain has taken this title, with their Manchester bar winning it in 2013 before conceding to their younger Chorlton based sister bar for 2014.

Notes to editors:

1. CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale is an independent, voluntary organisation campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights.
2. The Trafford & Hulme Branch covers the south western part of Manchester City Centre, the whole of the Borough of Trafford plus Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Hulme & Whalley Range. The branch has 1000 members.
3. The Knott, 374 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4LY. Telephone 0161 839 9229. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
4. Flixton Conservative Club, 193 Flixton Road, M41 5DF. Telephone 0161 748 2846. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
5. The Font, 115-117 Manchester Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, M21 9PG. Telephone 0161 871 2022. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Congratulations to Pete & Wendy (pictured with Beverley Gobbett who proposed the award) and the rest of the team at the Railway in Broadheath, on winning the 2014 Trafford and Hulme Community Pub of the Year award.

A well deserved award for this pub that has successfully served the locals of Broadheath since it was saved from demolition in the mid 1990's by a joint campaign organised by CAMRA and its locals. Pete and his partner Wendy have carried on the tradition of keeping the Railway a locals local since taking over the lease.

Some pubs have a smart kitchen and are able to serve meals, the Railway doesn't, some pubs have the space to allow live music & comedy acts, the Railway doesn't. The Railway relies entirely on its community spirit, and great ale, to attract and keep its customers   So let's wish Pete & Wendy a long and successful future, well done!