Proper Pubs announces Pub of the Year winners
The Ashmore Inn in Wolverhampton and the Chapel House in Warrington have been named winners of Proper Pubs’ Pub of the Year awards.
An operator with more than 200 pubs across the UK has announced the winners of its Pub of the Year Awards.
Proper Pubs, the community wet-led division of Admiral Taverns, has granted the Ashmore Inn in Wolverhampton and the Chapel House in Warrington, both winners of the competition, a £1,000 cash prize in recognition of their contributions to their communities and local charities.
In November 2023, Proper Pubs launched the awards to celebrate pubs and operators going the extra mile within their local communities. Each pub across the estate was judged by Proper Pubs' senior leadership team.
The Ashmore Inn was named Charity Pub of the Year, while the Chapel House claimed the Community Pub of the Year title.
The winners
In Wolverhampton, Tina Wood (pictured), operator of the Ashmore Inn, raised over £30,000 for local causes in the last 12 months, including fundraising for a family whose house burnt down, as well as to support those who have lost infants and children with cancer. Wood even puts her tips from customers into charity tubs on the bar.
The Chapel House has become a vital community pillar, supporting all aspects of local life, since operators Mike Howarth and Katie John took over in October 2022. They have worked tirelessly to support initiatives close to their hearts through a regular schedule of fundraising events.
The pub has held events in aid of MacMillan after a resident lost their life to cancer, as well as monthly quizzes to raise funds for the Burtonwood Community Bys service. It also hosts the local ukulele club – The Chapeleles – every Tuesday night, hosting 26 members aged 13–85, including two individuals with Alzheimer's.
Matthew Gurney, operations director for Proper Pubs, comments: "On behalf of myself and the whole team at Proper Pubs, I would like to thank our incredible operators, Tina, Mike and Katie at the Ashmore Inn and Chapel House for their incredible contributions to their local communities. I'm blown away by their efforts and really pleased that we've been able to recognise their hard work.
"It's so important to us that our pubs act as more than just a place to drink, but a place to support their customers and local residents and I think this shows just that," he adds. "I'm delighted that we've been able to do a little something to show our appreciation."
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