By Elizabeth Broughton

Last updated at 15:24, Monday, 12 January 2009

If it's a pint of Carlisle’s finest ale that tickles your fancy, then the King’s Head is the place to go – and that’s official.

Mike Vose, landlord of The Kings Head

With Yates Bitter on the pump full time and a host of guest ales, the Fisher Street pub has fought off stiff competition from a growing number of real ale haunts in Carlisle to take the accolade of “City Real Ale Pub of the Year 2008” from the Solway branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

It’s welcome recognition for the work of landlord Mike Vose, who has introduced real ale into the pub since he took over seven and a half years ago.

“It’s an old traditional looking pub and it should sell traditional beer,” explained Mike.

The decision to begin stocking it was a wise one, with this latest award coming after two wins in the Solway CAMRA ‘Pub of the Season’ category.

Mike now has three pumps operating in the King’s Head, meaning that Yates Bitter, locally brewed in Westnewton, can be served full time while ever-changing guest ales can also be brought in.

He said: “Sometimes the odd person might make a suggestion for an ale, but I tend to pick all sorts of things.

“We do get them back if they’re popular, but not too quickly – you tend to find that popularity dwindles.”

But the popularity of ale as a whole is on the rise.

“My sales of real ale are just going up and up,” said Mike. “It’s definitely more popular than it was, definitely a niche category. Since I’ve reintroduced it, more pubs in the city have introduced it and shown more of an interest.”

It is the first year that the award for “City Real Ale Pub of the Year” has been awarded, and five pubs were shortlisted.

Philip Tuer, Solway CAMRA pubs liaison officer, said: “To be shortlisted was good to start with for the Kings Head, to actually win it really does show his commitment to real ale.

“The most important thing is the quality of the beer followed by the service, welcome and general ambience of the pub.”

Mike added: “It’s a nice reward not just for me but for the staff as well.”

First published at 11:27, Monday, 12 January 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk