A TAVISTOCK pub is celebrating, after being presented with a prestigious industry award. The Trout and Tipple has been named Pub of the Year by the Plymouth area branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. The award is a particularly special accolade for publicans Shaun Collins and Julie Payne, who had never owned a pub before they came to The Trout six years ago. Shaun said they were ?delighted? to be chosen as pub of the year. ?It?s an award where you don?t have to subscribe to anything, or advertise in anything to get it,? said Shaun. ?It?s voted by CAMRA members ? beer enthusiasts.? Keen lovers of real ale, Shaun and Julie keep four at The Trout ? Jail Ale from Princetown Brewery is permanently available and there are three other regularly changing beers. ?We try to keep to beers from the Society of Independent Brewers south west region ? when we have beer festivals we?ll have seven beers at any one time,? said Shaun. In the six years they have been at The Trout, Shaun and Julie have stocked more than 550 guest beers ? decorative clips from the pumps now cover the entire ceiling in the main bar and are now beginning to take up ceiling space in the front bar area. Shaun said he and Julie wanted to say a big ?thank you? to all their regular customers for their support ? and to the businesses involved with the pub, particularly Abigail at Tavistock Trout Farm and Simon from Princetown Brewery. Bill Barnes, chairman of Plymouth CAMRA, said the pub won the award for the good quality and variety of real ales, which were often brewed locally. He said Shaun and Julie had worked hard during their time at the pub and made a ?fantastic difference? to the business, providing great service and real ale. The Trout will now go forward to the regional stages of the competition.
