The Wenlock Arms, 26 Wenlock Road, Hoxton, London, N1 7TA has won North London’s Pub of the Year after a 9 year wait.

John Cryne, from CAMRA’s North London Branch, said, 'This is a classic story of rags to riches then back to rags and finally riches. The pub reopened as a free house in 1994 by Steve Barnes and Will Williams and became a beacon for good beer at a time when real ale was not in abundance. Then property developers took an interest and in 2010 a three year fight began to keep it as a pub. It finally re-opened in 2013 and gradually re-built its reputation for good beer and a warm welcome winning North London’s Pub of the Year in 2017 and now the pub has done it for a second time under its current ownership. This adds to the four awards under the previous ownership”.

Esther & Samson & John Cryne

John added, “The Wenlock Arms now has an impressive array of 10 handpumps selling real ale and real cider and, of course, it is only in pubs that you can drink real ale. There are few pubs in our branch area that can boast winning our Pub of the Year as many times as the Wenlock Arms. The winner is chosen by an online vote by CAMRA members. One respondent said ‘Harking back to its glorious late 90s/early 00s days as the finest cask ale joint in London (when competition was much slighter), the Wenlock Arms is once again firing on all cylinders (and all lines) as the benchmark in how to keep and serve cask, at the same time creating an inclusive, lively and convivial place to gather’. This comment is a tribute to all the hard work the team at the Wenlock has put in.”.

John Cryne, from the local CAMRA Branch, said, “This pub was closed for at least five years, and we were concerned that it would never open again. This is despite the efforts of locals to get the pub listed as an Asset of Community Value. Then the new owners, Twickenham Green Taverns, who are experienced pub owners, really invested in this pub. Their commitment has shown by the number of CAMRA awards it has received over the last three years. So we are delighted the Magdala finally got the top Branch Pub Award”.

Samson Armett-Roughley, Wenlock’s Cellar Manager, said “With these many ale taps, the ongoing pressures to pubs and businesses means the odds are against us, So it’s an honour to win this award and help keep real ale alive.

Photo: Esther Harper (general manager) - Samson Armett-Roughley (Cellar Manager) and John Cryne (North London CAMRA representative)

The Wenlock Team & Patrons on a beautiful spring evening

The pub was initially the brewery tap for the nearby Wenlock Brewery until it closed in 1962 (hence the pub’s name). It has ten handpumps and a selection of real ciders. It’s a traditional Victorian corner pub (it was built in 1835) with a ‘U’ shaped bar, dart board and a piano in the back seating area. Such is its classic features that it has been used for filming including Simon Pegg’s ‘The World’s End’. But there is more than just beer. There is a simple snack menu of toasties, Piemaster pies, baked Camembert and tuna melts.

The Award was presented to the pub on Tuesday 7th April

For further details contact: John Cryne: moc.liamelgoog@2enyrc.nhoj, 07802 174861 or moc.smrakcolnew@reeb; moc.smrakcolnew@nosmaS 020 7608 3406

Extra facts

• CAMRA is the Campaign for Real Ale and is a volunteer membership organisation with over 200 volunteer branches across the UK and over 140,000 members.
• CAMRA nationally was formed in 1971. It exists to promote good beer, protect pubs and defend consumer rights.
• The North London branch of CAMRA covers most of the North London postcodes plus WC1 and parts of WC2, and has almost 700 pubs in it.
• The Wenlock Arms is part of CAMRA’s LocAle scheme, which promotes pubs stocking local beers. The pub prides itself on having well trained staff who know about the beers.
• The pub is a 10 minute walk from Old Street and just few minutes from Regents Canal.
• The pub’s address is 26 Wenlock Road, Hoxton, N1 7TA. Opening times are: Mon 3pm-11pm; Tue & Wed: 12pm-11pm; Thurs 12pm-12am; Fri & Sat: 12pm-1am.
• For more details on the pub, visit: http://www.wenlockarms.com
• The Wenlock Arms is part of a small band of four pubs that are leased by Heath Ball. Two of these are in Highgate: Red Lion & Sun and the Angel Inn.