[T]he White Mare in Beckermet has beaten off competition from over 1,000 pubs around the country to be named Pub with the Best Pint in national awards run by Heineken owned Star Pubs & Bars this week.
The pub’s beer was judged against stringent criteria ranging from taste, smell and temperature to staff knowledge and service and came out on top in every area.
The judges were “wowed’ by their visit to the White Mare and described having a pint there as “a joy” awarding it full marks for the temperature, taste and smell of its beers, the cleanliness of the glassware and the friendliness of the staff. The judges also commended the range of beers on tap (including one from nearby Keswick brewery), the miniature display bottles showcasing each draught beer’s colour and the ‘try before you buy policy’ enabling staff to help customers find their ideal beer.
The judges put the win down to the hard work and meticulous standards of licensee Dianne Irving who transformed the tired, unloved pub when she took it over two years ago, investing in a £400,000 refurbishment to restore the White Mare to its former glory as a great village pub.
The award was the third endorsement of the White Mare’s beer this year with the pub winning a place in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide for the first time and recently gaining Cask Marque accreditation for its beer quality with a five star rating. It is also the pub’s third award since reopening in 2015. In 2016, the White Mare was crowned Best Pub in Cumbria and Dianne also scooped Newcomer of the Year in the Great British Pub Awards.
Dianne received the prestigious prize at a gala celebration night in Manchester from Coronation Street star Kym Marsh.
Says Dianne, “We give our beer a huge amount of care and attention and are passionate about serving the perfect pint. It’s the first thing every member of staff learns and the award is a real accolade to the team and our bar manager Andrew Carver. To be recognised nationally for our beer is amazing – it shows all our hard work has paid off.”
Star Pubs & Bars managing director, Lawson Mountstevens said: “Dianne and her team are scoring a well-deserved hat trick with this third award. A pint at the White Mare is truly perfection and a great all round experience thanks to the outstanding quality of the beer, genuine warm welcome and knowledgeable service that customers receive.”
