A pub that only opened less than five years ago in a new development has been named as the Pub of the Year by the Bristol branch of CAMRA - and it’s not even in Bristol.
The Campaign for Real Ale’s Bristol and District branch has said that The Siren’s Calling, a purpose-built new pub between a Costa Coffee and a seafood restaurant on the waterfront at Portishead Marina, is their pub of the year.
The pub opened in May 2018 after getting planning permission despite some controversy that the presence of a pub would be a nuisance for the residents of the luxury flats at the marina.
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But in the years since, it’s forged a reputation as a pub that specialises in and celebrates craft ale and local brews, as well as a thriving local music scene, 80s nights and regular beer festivals and tasting evenings.
Now, it’s been recognised with the ultimate accolade from the leading lovers of pub life in the Bristol area, CAMRA, who loved the community focus of the pub as well as the range of ales on offer.
Bristol & District CAMRA branch chair Richard Brooks said The Siren’s Calling was a worthy winner, with the Merchants Arms in Hotwells a good runner-up.
“It is quite something to be judged by local CAMRA members as being the best pubs in our branch area, so very well done to both the Siren’s Calling and to the Merchants Arms,” he said. “The Sirens Calling is a comparatively new pub that first opened in 2018 and since then has really established itself on the real ale scene. In their feedback the pub of the year judges praised the range and quality of the beer at the Siren's Calling.
“They were also impressed by the community focus of the pub and that it shows initiative in holding a range of beer related events. The general view was that it is a clean, well run, real ale focused independent pub in a prime location right on Portishead Marina,” he added.
The owner of The Siren’s Calling, Andy Holian, said they wouldn’t have made it to five years without CAMRA’s support.
“This is an incredible achievement for us, a small unassuming bar, operating in a local community and representing all the regulars that support us,” he said. “Without their ongoing support of the work we do and the events we offer, making it to our fifth anniversary with everything thrown at us - including residents' revolts, collapsing ceilings, flooding toilets and of course Covid - would never have been possible.
“We have enjoyed offering different experiences and events including the cask focused Bristol Brewery Challenge, Blind Beer tastings, winter and summer beer festivals and our ever popular Oktoberfest weekend, not to mention the ongoing promotion of Belgian beers and brasseries.
“I would like to thank CAMRA for their support and their recognition of the hard work we do, and I would like to make special reference to our local rep Neil Ravenscroft who has spread our name since the day we opened. We have an idyllic setting and we hope that more people will now stop by when walking around the Marina and enjoy a beer or two,” he added.
Back in Bristol, the Merchants Arms are also celebrating their runner-up award, saying it was a great honour.
Owner Mike Wilkins said it showed there was still a place for a pub with no machines or juke boxes. “It is a great honour to accept the Runner Up Award,” he said. “I feel it demonstrates that there is still a place in this fantastic industry for a traditional real ale pub - no frills, no machines, no juke box but a selection of excellent, mainly, local cask ales, an eclectic mix of background music and great conversation, oh and a roaring log fire in the winter.
“However, that is only half the story of the Merchants. I have the best team I have worked with in my very long career in this trade, brilliant customers and the best local breweries we could hope for. Thank you all for making the Merchants Arms the great pub it is,” he added.
CAMRA branch chair Richard Brooks said it wasn’t the first time the Merchant Arms had been acknowledged by the Campaign. “This is not the first CAMRA award won by the Merchants Arms. Back in 2001 it was awarded what was then the national CAMRA Joe Goodwin Award (now called the Community Local Award) which is given to 'outstanding refurbished street-corner locals'. This year the pub of the year judges considered the Merchants Arms to be a great community local. A welcoming pub with a nice cosy interior and excellent real ale,” he said.
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