Hook Norton tenants achieve gold standard

l Award-winning Hook Norton licencees show off a Beautiful Beer plaque. Left to right are Tony Puddifoot, of the Reindeer, Banbury, John and Trisha Bellinger, of the Bell Inn Adderbury, and Percy Caufield, of the Red Lion, Ilmington

January 9, 2007: Three Hook Norton tenants are celebrating a triple success as their pubs have been judged to set some of the highest standards for serving beer in the country.

The licensees and staff of the Reindeer, Banbury, the Bell Inn Adderbury — both in Oxfordshire — and the Red Lion, Ilmington,Warwickshire have joined an illustrious group of 100 pubs that have struck gold in the pub and brewing industry-sponsored Beautiful Beer Gold Awards.

	BEAUTIFUL BEER
	The Beautiful Beer Awards were launched in March 2006. Pubs can apply to be assessed for either the Gold Award, which recognises great quality beer, or the higher, Platinum Award, which rewards pubs that are actively promoting their beers by offering a variety of beers and beer glasses, beer lists, beer and food matching and beer tastings.

The award wining pubs are now able to display the distinctive Beautiful Beer plaque outside their pubs. To judge the awards, trained inspectors carried out a thorough audit of the three pubs, from the storage of beer in the cellar through to the pouring of a pint behind the bar.

“The Gold Award, presented to these pubs, recognises that they serve great quality beer — both draught and bottled,” said Beautiful Beer spokeswoman Ros Shiel.

Hook Norton managing director James Clarke said: “We pride ourselves on the quality of our beer at all of our pubs so it’s great to receive this external recognition for three of our tenants.

“The Beautiful Beer plaque will tell customers that when they order a beer in these three pubs that they can be guaranteed it’s a great one.

"The Beautiful Beer Awards are an excellent opportunity for our licensees to promote their pubs among existing customers and to potential new customers.”