The Swan with Two Necks in Pendleton beat off competition from over 57,000 pubs across the UK and was rewarded for having ‘all the criteria that make a great pub’, including its atmosphere, beer choice and quality of service.
"We are delighted and proud to have been judged Camra’s National Pub Of The Year,” said landlord Steve Dilworth. “We’ve been at The Swan with Two Necks for 27 years and think of it as our hidden gem.
“This is a fantastic achievement, not only for ourselves but our dedicated staff, and a great boost for our community.”
Camra’s pubs director Julian Hough added: “The Swan with Two Necks really is the best of the best, having beaten rival pubs at every step, in a process which starts at a local level and takes a full twelve months to complete.
“It is a wonderfully welcoming pub that serves a fantastic pint, and is popular with regulars and visiting tourists alike, in a quintessentially British, rural setting.”
Winning formula
To win the National Pub of the Year competition, The Swan with Two Necks first had to win its local competition, then fight off tough competition at the regional stage before being put forward as one of four finalists. It was a process which took a full 12 months and hundreds of hours of judging by dedicated Camra volunteers and competition judges.
Pubs were judged on a variety of criteria such as atmosphere, level of service, value for money and community focus, with extra weight given to the quality of real ale, cider and perry.
Describing the offering at The Swan With Two Necks, Camra’s 2014 Good Beer Guide reads: “The home-made food here comes in portions ideal for hungry walker. There is outdoor seating in the garden and in front of the pub, looking out onto a small stream running through the beautifully kept village. Cosy open fires blaze in winter months.
“As you’d expect, the beer is also an important draw, with the house beer Golden Pippen by Copper Dragon alongside guest ales from micro-breweries such as Phoenix, Dark Star and Salamander all worth a try.”
This year’s three finalists were The Hope in Carshalton, The Horse and Jockey in Stapleford, and The Old Spot Inn in Dursley. It is the second year running that a Lancashire pub has won Camra’s National Pub of the Year award, with The Baum in Rochdale taking the title last year.