Everards Brewery, brewers of Tiger Best Bitter, the Official Beer of Leicester Tigers, have won a prestigious CAMRA award for their Project William scheme.
The Leicestershire brewery landed the Bill Squires Award for its work supporting microbrewers, championing cask ale and reviving pubs.
The winner of the award is voted for by CAMRA branches in the East Midlands and it is the first time in ten years it has been presented.
The award recognised the Project William scheme, where Everards works with smaller brewers and ‘cask ale champions’ to breathe new life into closed or previously unsustainable pubs.
Project William has so far led to the resurrection of 29 pubs in the Midlands, working in tandem with 10 local brewers. Of those pubs, 15 had been closed before Everards invested in them and 17 have gone on to win CAMRA Pub of the Year Awards.
CAMRA East Midlands regional director Carl Brett presented the award at Nottingham’s Sir John Borlase Warren pub. He said: “We have seen Project William develop and grow right across our region.
“We see how this scheme supports microbrewers and gives pub customers a fantastic choice of local ales in pubs that may not still be going without it. Our members felt that this commitment needed to be recognised and we are pleased to present it to Everards.”
Richard Everard, the chairman of Everards Brewery, said: “This award will take pride of place in the brewery. We are passionate about great pubs and great beer and Project William gives us an opportunity to deliver both for local communities.
“We would like to thank all the breweries and cask ale champions who work alongside us and we look forward to continuing Project William for many years. We hope Project William gives some of our partners the opportunity to become fifth-generation brewers, just like ourselves.”
The Leicestershire brewery landed the Bill Squires Award for its work supporting microbrewers, championing cask ale and reviving pubs.
The winner of the award is voted for by CAMRA branches in the East Midlands and it is the first time in ten years it has been presented.
The award recognised the Project William scheme, where Everards works with smaller brewers and ‘cask ale champions’ to breathe new life into closed or previously unsustainable pubs.
Project William has so far led to the resurrection of 29 pubs in the Midlands, working in tandem with 10 local brewers. Of those pubs, 15 had been closed before Everards invested in them and 17 have gone on to win CAMRA Pub of the Year Awards.
CAMRA East Midlands regional director Carl Brett presented the award at Nottingham’s Sir John Borlase Warren pub. He said: “We have seen Project William develop and grow right across our region.
“We see how this scheme supports microbrewers and gives pub customers a fantastic choice of local ales in pubs that may not still be going without it. Our members felt that this commitment needed to be recognised and we are pleased to present it to Everards.”
Richard Everard, the chairman of Everards Brewery, said: “This award will take pride of place in the brewery. We are passionate about great pubs and great beer and Project William gives us an opportunity to deliver both for local communities.
“We would like to thank all the breweries and cask ale champions who work alongside us and we look forward to continuing Project William for many years. We hope Project William gives some of our partners the opportunity to become fifth-generation brewers, just like ourselves.”
