THE team at the Red Lion in Exbourne have proved they pour a good pint, as the pub has been named the North Devon CAMRA Pub of the Year. Representatives from the North Devon branch of the Campaign for Real Ale visited the pub on Saturday to present landlord Nick Hamlyn and the pub's staff with the pub's prize. It is the first time the pub has won the award. CAMRA is an independent organisation that promotes traditional real ales and has branches across the UK. The North Devon branch has over 250 members in an area that covers roughly west of Exeter to the Tamar and north of the A30 to Ilfracombe. The pub has two ales that it keeps on tap, and then rotates other choices, with all ales sold straight from thåe barrel. The ales sold are almost always from Devon or Cornwall. To show the devotion to its real ales, the pub is one of only a small number in the county to not have either lager or cider pumps on the bar. Landlord Nick Hamlyn said: 'It is a very pleasant surprise to be named as the winner. It is huge for the business and recognises us as a fantastic place to come and enjoy your ales. 'Exbourne is a small place, and since I came here this is what I want. It was always my aim to push the real ale side of things and attract real ale drinkers from other places. We have been named in the Good Beer Guide for the last five years, lots of people come here to enjoy their ales and this award shows we are doing the right things.' Over the weekend, the pub held a beer festival to celebrate its achievement and also raised money for Exbourne Village Hall. The pub hosted an auction of promises and a curry and quiz night, and the festival is thought to have raised well over £1,000 for the hall. The judging process now continues for the pub, as it competes against other pubs in the region to be named the South West CAMRA Regional Pub of the year. If the Red Lion wins this title, it can progress to the national final.