CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

Pub of the Season

DONCASTER & DISTRICT BRANCH

On our web site you will find . . .

Summer 2007

The Carpenters Arms

Westwoodside

To win a Pub of the Season award within 18 months of becoming a licensee is no easy feat. However this is precisely what Bill and Ellie Alexander have achieved at the Carpenters Arms, Westwoodside, which has received the Doncaster District Summer award for 2007.

After taking over in November 2005, Bill and Ellie introduced an impressive range of good quality cask ales which soon came to CAMRA's notice.

The Carpenters currently offers Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Charles Wells Bombardier and John Smith's Cask as regular features plus a rotating guest ale. Recent guests have included Caledonian XPA and a special St George's Day ale brewed by Mann's.

The Carpenters is very much at the hub of village life. There has been a pub on the site for about 200 years. For many years it has hosted the tri-annual Mere Lettings, at which small pockets of land are leased out for a token rent. This custom dates back to a time when agricultural workers were encouraged to augment their wages by growing their own produce.

The Carpenters is also the holder of the world-famous Haxey Hood which is currently on display in the public bar. A word of warning though: it's best to look and not touch as local custom dictates that any visitor who takes down the Hood is expected to buy a drink for everyone in the pub!

At present the Carpenters consists of a public bar and a split-level lounge. No food is available. However Bill and Ellie have ambitious plans to convert the adjoining house into a restaurant with a bar/reception area. They are keen to promote the idea of beer complementing food and hope to use local suppliers where possible. In preparation for the forthcoming smoking ban there are plans to build a permanent structure for smokers directly outside the pub.

Bill and Ellie will be presented with their well-deserved award on Tuesday July 31st at 9:30 pm. Why not come along and share the evening? You're guaranteed a warm welcome and a good pint. We'll be taking a bus from West Street at 6.30 and we hope to see you there.

Dave Bartley

Recent winners of the award:

Spring 2007
The Bay Horse, Great Heck

Winter 2007
The King's Head, Pollington

Autumn 2006
The Falcon, Mexborough

Summer 2006
The Scarbrough Arms, Tickhill

Spring 2006
The Windmill, Thorne

Winter 2006
The Shoulder of Mutton, Kirk Smeaton

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