The Shakespeare Tavern has been named as the best pub in Bristol by CAMRA. The bar, which can be found by the harbourside on Prince Street, has won the Bristol and District branch pub of the year award from the Campaign for Real Ale.
The tavern's manager, Nick Ashby, said he was "elated" when he found out last Sunday (March 20) that he and his team were the winners of the prestigious industry prize. "It kind of knocked me for six for about two days and I was kind of walking around the place just going, I don't know what to do now," he told Bristol Live.
He said that it came as a "shock" to be crowned as the city's best pub because the shortlist of possible winners was "really strong" and varied, but he thinks that this is a sign that traditional pubs like the Shakespeare are still thriving. "For us it's showing that we are a traditional pub and we do what we do well, and it shows that were supportive of our local customers, and our suppliers, and our beer.
Read more: Historic Bristol pub The Shakespeare Tavern to undergo 'exciting' refurbishment
"We're good at what we do in terms of beer selection and our beer choices and what we offer here, and it shows that pubs are still going, traditional old pubs still can be good and that's the important thing." The pub is owned by Greene King, which owns 2,700 pubs, restaurants and hotels across the UK, including 20 in the Bristol area.
But Nick says that what makes the Shakespeare Tavern stand out is its history, as it claims to have the longest-serving alcohol licence of any boozer in the city. They also make sure to offer plenty of entertainment, with quizzes on Wednesdays and live bands on Fridays, while their kitchen also cooks up traditional pub food to go with your drinks, including Sunday roasts which are so popular that they're normally sold out by 3pm.
But, Nick said, the thing which was most important to him when he began running the bar was creating a great atmosphere for locals to come and enjoy themselves. "It's the warm welcomes, the fact that you feel comfortable - that's what I wanted here when I first came. I wanted a pub that you can walk into and you can sit there for hours and not even feel that time has passed," he said.
Runners-up in the competition went to the Cornubia, on Temple Street in Redcliffe. The official CAMRA certificates will be presented to both pubs on Wednesday, April 20.
CAMRA Bristol & District Branch Chair Richard Brooks said: “Very well done to the Shakespeare Tavern and in particular to licensee Nick Ashby for winning Bristol & District CAMRA branch Pub Of The Year, and also to the Cornubia which came in as runner-up. There was a lot of positive feedback about how much the Shakespeare Tavern has improved since Nick took over.
"In particular his enthusiasm for expanding the beer range, improving the welcome and facilities of the pub (including opening a function room, which are few and far between in pubs these days) and for supporting and promoting CAMRA.”
