The Baum, Rochdale, Lancashire has been crowned the best pub in Britain by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale in its National Pub of the Year Competition which recognises all the criteria that make a great pub, including atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix, and – most importantly – the quality of the beer.
CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year competition is judged by CAMRA’s 146,975 membership. Each CAMRA branch selects their favourite pub. The branch winners are entered into 16 regional competitions, with the 16 winners then battling it out to reach the final stages of the competition.
The Baum, which sits next door to the Pioneers Museum, has only been a pub for around 30 years and was converted from Morris’s Hardware Store in the 1980’s. Simon Crompton, one of the owners, started work in The Baum in 1993 and became manager in 1994. In 2005, Simon and his wife Heidi, who co-owns the business, bought the pub just two days after having their first child.
Heidi Crompton said:
“We are a family run pub with our values influencing every aspect of the business in relationships with our staff and suppliers. We are dedicated to the ‘buy local, shop local’ initiative, always willing to support independent businesses. The support from the regular customers and local CAMRA members is valued and we would like to thank everyone for their continued support.”
CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2013 describes the pub as “A split-level hostelry with old world charm next door to the world’s first co-operative store. The Baum has eight handpumps, one dedicated to cider, and a large variety of continental bottled beers. Excellent food includes vegetarian dishes, with a tapas menu available throughout the week. There is an upstairs dining / function room. The large rear garden, over looked by a conservatory, contains two full-size pétanque pistes.”
The three other finalists were:
- Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, Wales – winner of CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year last year and the first Welsh winner of this award. Taken over by the McGivern family in 2009, it sells five different real ales.
5 Bridge Street, Ruabon, Wrexham, LL14 6DA
- Conqueror Alehouse, Ramsgate, Kent – Ramsgate’s smallest free house, where ale and cider are served straight from barrels. It offers a quiet, music and TV free atmosphere in which to enjoy a pint or two.
4C Grange Road, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 9LR
- Tom Cobley Tavern, Spreyton, Devon – a former CAMRA National Pub of the Year in 2006, it sells 14 different real ales every week, plus 20 ciders in a pub that is ‘part of community life’.
off A3124 in Spreyton Village, EX17 5AL