The Corner Pin - Town Centre Pub of the Season Spring 2010

The past year has certainly been an eventful one for Dave and Ruth Wicks. When they officially became licensees of the Corner Pin, St Sepulchre Gate West on January 18th 2009, the pub’s future was uncertain. However, by the time of their first anniversary, the Corner Pin had experienced one of the most successful years in its long history. Regular readers of Donny Drinker will be aware of Doncaster and District CAMRA’s campaign to save the Corner Pin and the nearby Horse and Jockey from demolition under a proposed redevelopment plan. In September we were informed that our campaign had succeeded. Then in October Dave and Ruth were awarded the Cask Marque for the high quality of their ales. Finally, to cap it all, the Corner Pin has now been voted our Doncaster Spring Pub of the Season.

The Corner Pin is a traditional town pub of a type which is becoming less common. Situated within easy walking distance of Doncaster’s town centre and Travel Interchange, it is a community pub with regulars which is far removed from the modern bars only a few hundred yards away. The Corner Pin caters for a clientele who often feel alienated by such places. Before the town was divided by the construction of Trafford Way, the Corner Pin was served by a tram service to the town centre. The pub has undergone many changes and it now comprises a public bar on the right as you enter anda smart lounge area on the left. The lounge has low beams and an impressive stained glass windowat the rear with a display of beer mats showing some of the many ales the pub has featured.

Behind the pub is an outside drinking area. The reason for our award is, of course, the beer and the Corner Pin has always been renowned forselling good-quality ale. This has resulted in various CAMRA awards in the past, including our Pub of the Year in 2008.  Four cask ales are always available: John Smith’s Cask is a permanent feature but the others come from a variety of microbreweries including Kelham Island, Copper Dragon, Ossett and Thorne. The Corner Pin is open from 12-12 every day, serving bar food until 6 and sandwiches until 10.  On Sundays a traditional Sunday lunch is served, featuring Ruth’s home-made Yorkshire puddings.

We’ll be presenting them with their award on Thursday 29 April at around 21:00. All are welcome to come along and support the event.

The Baxter Arms, Fenwick - District Pub of the Season Spring 2010

The Baxter Arms at Fenwick is our Doncaster District Spring Pub of the Season 2010. It was opened in 1973 after being altered from a farm house called Baxters Farm and has been run by the same family for 30 years. The current licensee, Alan Clarke, has been there for 21 of those 30 years, his father having previously been landlord at several different public houses in this area.

Situated on Fenwick Lane, it is a Free House with Theakston’s Best Bitter as a regular and one other guest ale, this usually being from a brewery in our region. Leeds Best was on offer onthe occasion of a much enjoyed branch visit last summer. We have been at other times when someone has volunteered to be ‘designated driver’ and have always received a warm welcomeand found the ales to be in excellent condition.

It is lovely to sit in the garden or at the front of the pub on a warm summer’s evening watching the sun go down. On Mondays to Fridays the all-important opening hours are from 18:00 to midnight but on Saturdays and Sundays the pub opens at 11:30 and remains open all day until closing at midnight.  Bar meals are served cooked to order (with some speciality nights) and are available from 18:00 to 22:00 (Mon – Fri) and from noon until 14:00, then from 18:00 to 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. On Wednesday evenings a quiz is held.

The lounge has an open fire in winter and there is also a smaller bar with a snooker table and another open fire. Outside there is a large lawned garden with a small play area and seating in front of the pub.  Bus 89 from the Interchange will take you to the Baxter Arms but unfortunately there are no buses on a Sunday. It’s about 30 minutes walk from Askern to Fenwick - but be sure to watch out for the traffic!

We'll be presenting Caroline and Alan with their Pub of the Season award on Saturday 5 June at around 21:30. All are welcome to come along and join us.