The Harp in London crowned National Pub of the Year

16th February 2011, 8:00am

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale has announced that The Harp in Covent Garden is the first London pub to win its National Pub of the Year competition.

The award recognises all the criteria that make a great pub, including atmosphere, decor, customer service, value for money, clientele mix, and most importantly, the quality of the beer. 

The Harp is described in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 2011 as ' a small, friendly, independent free house which has become a haven for beer choice, generally including a mild or porter, Dark Star and London Micro-brewery seasonal. The narrow bar is adorned with mirrors, theatrical memorabilia and portraits. There is no intrusive music or TV and a cosy upstairs room provides refuge from the busy throng.'

Kimberly Martin, CAMRA's London regional director, said: "I never ceased to be impressed or surprised by the continuing success of a pub staffed by individuals so passionate about the real ale industry. The Harp is a perfect example of how the London cask beer scene is reaching out to new drinkers."

Bridget Walsh first took on The Harp as a tenanted pub in 1995 (buying the pub outright in 2009) and went about transforming it into a pub dedicated to real ale, real cider and real sausages.

Walsh said: "This news came as a complete shock but of course we are delighted to be named CAMRA's National Pub of the Year. We pride ourselves on the range and quality of our real ale and to be London's first ever National Pub of the Year is a real honour. I would like to thank my locals, CAMRA members and particularly my brilliant staff, who made this a real team effort."

CAMRA's National Pub of the Year competition is judged by CAMRA's 120,000 members. Each CAMRA branch votes for their favourite pub. The branch winners are entered into 16 regional competitions, with the 16 winners then battling it out to reach the final stages of the National competition.

Related Articles:

• 14 Dec 2011 - National Pub of the Year 2011 finalists announced
• 20 Oct 2010 - CAMRA reveals National Pub Design Award winners
• 06 Aug 2010 - CAMRA launches new edition of Cellarmanship
• 05 Aug 2010 - CAMRA relaunches its Heritage Pubs website
• 27 Jul 2010 - CAMRA launches Edinburgh Pub Walks booklet
• 19 May 2010 - CAMRA's National Club of the Year crowned
• 26 Mar 2010 - CAMRA launches first ever online beer tasting
• 16 Nov 2009 - CAMRA backs celebrity London pub
• 04 Aug 2009 - CAMRA reaches 100,000 members
• 28 Jul 2009 - CAMRA launches petition to save historic pub
• 23 Jul 2009 - CAMRA declares National Pub Design Awards open
• 12 Sep 2008 - CAMRA launches Good Beer Guide 2009
• 02 Sep 2008 - CAMRA backs National Brewing Museum
• 07 Aug 2008 - CAMRA launches 'A Beer a Day' book
• 05 Aug 2008 - CAMRA crowns real ale as 'Drink of Britain'
• 11 Mar 2008 - CAMRA calls for one penny cut in beer tax

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