Gwent Pub in Finals of National Competition

The current Gwent CAMRA Town Pub of the Year, the Commercial Inn in Risca, is the regional winner in two categories in the Morning Advertiser Great British Pub Awards 2009. The Commercial has won the Welsh titles for 'Best Community Pub' and 'Best Managed Inn' and will now face other pubs from across the UK in the national championships before the announcement of the winning pubs on September 9th. The Commercial Inn is a former Gwent CAMRA Pub of the Year and is owned by local pub company Dragon Inns.

Above and below, 2 photographs of the Commercial in Pontymister, Risca,

Other Welsh Winners:

The Wales Region winner in the 'Best Cask Beer Pub' category is another CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular, the Waun Wyllt Inn at Five Roads, near Llanelli in Carmarthenshire. Owned by Great Old Inns, this pub offers an ever-changing selection of real ales and is a former Carmarthenshire CAMRA Pub of the Year. The name of the pub translates as 'Wild moor/meadow' and refers to the location of the pub in the Sylen Hills.

The 'Best Cellar' winner for Wales is the Britannia Inn at Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen.

The 'Best Entertainment Pub' winner for Wales is the Carne Park Hotel, Abercynon. Another Dragon Inns pub.

The 'Best Freehouse' winner is the Red Lion at Llangadog, the Carmarthenshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2008.

The 'Best Gastropub' winner for Wales is the Pen-y-Cae Inn, Brecon Road, Pen Y Cae, Swansea Valley, Powys.

'Best Live Music' award went to O' Neil's in Cardiff. Well enough said about that.

Paul Charity, editor of the Morning Advertiser, said, "It is heartening to find such a wonderful success story when there has been little good news about pubs recently. This is proof that talented, hard-working landlords and landladies can still attract customers wanting to experience the unique atmosphere of the Great British Pub. They thoroughly deserve this public recognition of their achievement."

More details of the winners and the final can be found on the Morning Advertiser site here.


This article first appeared on the Brew Wales blog.