Drinking to pub's success (From Watford Observer)

Drinking to pub's success

9:30am Tuesday 21st February 2006 in News

THE owners of a Heronsgate pub are toasting their success, after notching up yet another award for the sideboard.

The Land of Liberty, Peace and Plenty was voted the Best Newcomer by pub industry newsletter the Morning Advertiser last month.

And this week owners Martin Few and Gill Nicoll were awarded for Pub of the Year by the Watford and District Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).

The Camra competition is judged on criteria including beer quality, ambiance, decor, campaigning and community focus.

Camra president, Andrew Vaughan, said: "Martin and Gill have shown their commitment to real ale by serving up over 200 different cask beers, many from small breweries, over the year that they have been in charge, as well as stocking 'Real Ale in a Bottle' and a changing range of continental bottled beers.

"Their commitment to Camra campaigning and the pub's constant list of events, including quizzes, themed food nights and traditional pub games evenings, not to mention the warm and inviting atmosphere in the pub, has ensured that the Land of Liberty is a well deserved winner and well worth going out of your way to visit."

Having won the Watford and District title, Martin and Gill will now compete for the Hertfordshire title.

Gill said: "We are delighted to have achieved this status, especially as we only took the Land on a year ago and had no experience of running a pub.

"As former Camra judges we knew what we would look for in a good pub and tried to tailor the Land to that idea, adopting the ethics and policies of Camra.

"I suppose our success is down to trying to practise what we preach."

Gill said her aim was to make the the Land of Liberty a place where the whole community feel comfortable.

She said: "We offer a range of different nights in the hope that there is something for everyone, and we want people to feel just as welcome whether they are on their own or in a group."

The couple will be presented with their Camra award on Friday.