Beloved Gloucester pub the Pelican Inn has been judged as the best pub in the region.

The St Mary's Street establishment has scooped CAMRA's prestigious Regional Pub of the Year Award. But the success for Gloucestershire doesn't stop there as Cheltenham's Motor Club in Upper Park Street has won the Regional Club of the Year Award for 2022.

Both pub and club will now enter the next stage of each respective competition, competing for the top title of the national pub or club of the year.

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Mike Hall took over The Pelican Inn ten years ago and has since made the pub a popular destination for locals. The Cheltenham Motor Club, founded in 1906, has always proven to provide a ‘friendly’ atmosphere for its members.

CAMRA’s South West Regional Director Peter Bridle will be presenting both awards this Thursday (August 25). Members of the local CAMRA branches will also be in attendance - firstly at the Cheltenham Motor Club from noon and at the Pelican, Gloucester from 2.30pm.

Peter Bridle, CAMRA’s South-West Regional Director, said: “These awards recognise the high standards of each of these outlets, not only in the quality of the beers they sell but also of the service and welcome they offer and the ambience and exacting standards they achieve.

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"The South West region covers a huge area from the Cotswold in the north of Gloucestershire right down to Cornwall. There are many great pubs and clubs in the region so to be overall winners in their categories reflects the ambitious standards they accomplish.

"The last two and a half years have been particularly difficult for the hospitality industry. It is great to see the Cheltenham Motor Club and the Pelican Inn maintaining such high standards and encouraging people to keep coming back. I would like to pass on my congratulations to Neil Way at the Cheltenham Motor Club and Mike Hall at the Pelican Inn.”

Rob Coldwell, Chair of Cheltenham CAMRA, said: “Cheltenham Motor Club keeps raising the bar in this competition. The club is a pivotal fixture in the local community, and you can see people of all ages and backgrounds enjoying perfectly kept great real ale and cider in a friendly and relaxing environment.

"You will also find the best Belgian and continental beers and, for people who like new-world style hoppy craft keg beers, Neil keeps some of the best UK examples of the style. We are lucky to have such a great venue in our branch.”

Margaret Wilkins, Committee member of Gloucestershire CAMRA, said: “A warm welcome awaits regulars and visitors alike and with the Pelican offering up to ten cask ales, mainly Wye Valley, but guest ales too, you are sure to find a beer for everyone.

"You will also find a good range of cider, craft keg and an eclectic range of canned beers. We are delighted with the news that the Pelican has won the CAMRA South West Region Pub of the Year. Mike Hall, his staff and his family deserve this award and recognition for making the pub a haven for real ale in Gloucester."

Mike Hall, from Pelican Inn, said it is "fabulously humbling" to win the award.

He added: "The foundation of our success here is built on our relationship with Wye Valley Brewery. They afforded us the time to re-establish a once forgotten Gloucester pub with real ale at its absolute heart. How the pub has since evolved over the past ten years has been the most wonderfully rewarding experience of my life. Thank you to everyone who has journeyed with us.”

Neil Way, club steward of the Cheltenham Motor Club, said: “What an honour and privilege to be awarded South West CAMRA Club of the Year, particularly after the extremely tough last two years. During the dark days of the first two lockdowns, we opened every night serving takeaway draught real ale and it was moving to see so many people turn up with their containers determined to get their "fix" of draught real ale. It was hammered home to me during those tough months what amazing institutions British clubs and pubs are and how much we love draught real ale. Cask is still very much king in my experience.

"Many thanks to CAMRA for your support, in particular the unswerving support of the Cheltenham CAMRA branch. I would also like to thank the Cheltenham Motor Club committee and my very hard-working, loyal staff. I must also thank my beautiful, long-suffering wife without whom I could not do this job. Most of all I would like to thank our fantastic locals and customers without whom we simply would not have survived the last two years."

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