George & Dragon named CAMRA Pub of the Year 2017
When the George & Dragon closed in 2008 it left the North Yorkshire village of Hudswell with no other facilities apart from a village hall.
But within two years the community banded together and bought back the pub, which reopened in 2010 after a renovation.
“The story of the George & Dragon goes to show that in the right hands a closed pub can become viable and successful,” says Paul Ainsworth, CAMRA’s Pub of the Year finalist coordinator.
“We hope that other communities are encouraged by the example when faced with an ongoing battle to save their own local.”
Community support
The pub is home to the village library, a local shop staffed by volunteers, community allotments and offers free WiFi for its patrons.
CAMRA was also impressed by the George & Dragon’s ‘warm’ atmosphere, large beer terrace with views of the Swale Valley and its range of ales and ciders.
“[This award] shows that hard work, good beer and the support of the community can help you achieve goals that seemed impossible only a short while ago,” says Stu Miller, landlord of the George & Dragon.
“I’m extremely proud of what our little pub has achieved.”
CAMRA’s national executive representative Ken Davies will present the pub with a plaque at 1pm today.
The CAMRA Pub of the Year competition aims to find the best pubs in the country.
Entrants are selected by CAMRA volunteers and judged on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix and quality of beer.
This year’s runners up are the Salutation Inn in Ham, Gloucestershire, the Stanford Arms in Lowestoft, Norfolk and the Swan with Two Necks in Pendleton, Lancashire.
