St Austell presents annual awards

February 20, 2006: The annual St Austell Brewery estate awards have been presented in a ceremony at the Hotel Bristol, Newquay, Cornwall.

The evening - attended by more than 220 people - celebrated the new standards being set by the family-run brewer's pubs, not only across the Westcountry but nationally and internationally, in winning major awards for its fine ales, great food and welcoming pubs.

The awards were split into 14 categories, ranging from cask ale pub of the yearto training team of the year and pub floral display of the year.

James Staughton, managing director of St Austell Brewery, praised the award winners but said everyone who had worked hard for the company in 2005 should be proud of their own and the brewery’s achievements.

He said: “Each year we manage to set ourselves and meet ever higher standards for customer service, the quality and range of our food and way we keep and serve our traditional ales. St Austell Brewery pubs, hotels and restaurants play a central role in the communities they serve and I’m confident they will continue to do so thanks to the hard work and professionalism of our staff.”

Among the award winners were tenants of the year Dave and Amanda Rowe, of the Hewas Inn, Sticker, and managers of the year James and Justine Stockton, of 5 Degrees West, Falmouth, which was earlier this month crowned best premium bar in the Morning Advertiser awards.

The Norway Inn, at Perran-ar-Worthal, another Morning Advertiser pub of the year in the best managed house category, added to its awards tally by picking up the St Austell Brewery title of customer service team of the year (managed), for Charlie Edgeler, Carole Slingo and their staff. Bar team of the year (managed) went to the Victoria Inn and Lodge, Roche, run by Alex and Tanya Williams.

As always there was tough competition in the food category, with the accolade for catering pub of the year (tenancy) going to the Pandora Inn, Restronguet Creek, which is run by John Milan and was earlier this year voted Cornwall’s pub of the year in the prestigious Cornwall Tourism Awards. The award for catering pub of the year (managed) went to John McKitterick at the Atlantic Inn, on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.

New tenants of the year were Adam Sprague and Carly Price, of the Western Inn, St Austell, who can add the title to their recent success in becoming Morning Advertiser regional newcomers of the year. The new managers of the yearaward went to Carol Medlen at the Weavers, in Bodmin.

Cask ale pub of the year (tenancy ) went to Kenny and Gladys Saundry at the Kings Arms, Luxulyan, and cask ale pub of the year (managed) was the Harbour Inn, Porthleven, run by Paul and Ellie Pitt.

The title community pub of the year (tenancy)’ went to the Commercial Inn, St Dennis, run by Kenneth and Patricia Morcom and well known for its spectacular Christmas decorations, while the pub floral display of the year was awarded to the equally stunning St Kew Inn.

The award for training team of the year (tenancy) was made to the Victoria Inn, Salcombe, and its tenant Andrew Cannon, while the award for training team of the year (managed) went to the Old Custom House, Padstow, run by Linda Prior, who also received an estate recognition award for long service.