Food & Drink Awards 2017

LUX - Food & Drink Awards 2017 77 Real Ale Pub of the Year 2017 - Shropshire Owned and run by husband and wife team Duncan and Grace, the Bailey Head opened in March 2016 on the site of an 18th century public house with a poor reputation. Everything was changed, the name of the pub, the drinks and food on offer and the clientele. Serving over 420 different real ales a year the pub was quickly voted Market Towns Pub of the Year by the Shrewsbury and West Shropshire Campaign for Real Ale, as well as being runner up for their overall pub of the year. At the first opportunity, the pub went straight into the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2018. Oakham Ales are regularly on the bar, with the pub accredited as an Oakham Oakademy of Excellence. As well as great real ale, the pub has an extensive craft beer list. On tap, there are six craft beers and as well as imported German Pils. To cap this there are three fridges filled with bottles and cans from some of the best UK Craft Beer producers as well as from Belgium, Italy, Japan, Holland and the USA. It is not only about beer; the rest of the menu includes 60 gins on the extensive spirit menu and a soft drinks Real Ale Pub of the Year 2017 - Shropshire The Bailey Head is a free house nestled in Oswestry close to the border between Shropshire and Wales. We profiled the establishment to find out more about the warm welcome guests can expect. Company: Bailey Head Ltd Contact: Duncan Borrowman Contact Email: [email protected] Address: The Bailey Head, Bailey Head, Oswestry, SY11 1PZ, UK Phone: 01691 570418 FO170094 list which has earned a five-star award from Club Soda. The food menu is simple but high quality; cheese boards using handmade Welsh and Shropshire Cheeses, Antipasti from Trealy Farm in Wales, Ploughman’s Lunches, local handmade pork pies & scotch eggs and bowls of local Venison Casserole and vegan soups – both served with hot crusty rolls. None of the success has come easy. Nearly a year passed with Grace and Duncan working alone. Since then a team of part time staff has been recruited, all of whom were regulars in the pub. It has been hard work getting the message across that just because it is the same building, it is a totally different pub and for people to give it a try. Now there is a strong following of locals drinking beer, sipping gin and tonics and maybe playing a game from the board games collection. Looking ahead, Grace and Duncan remain committed to the belief that the day that they think there is nothing that can be improved is the day to stop. “It has been hard work getting the message across that just because it is the same building, it is a totally different pub and for people to give it a try. Now there is a strong following of locals drinking beer, sipping gin and tonics and maybe playing a game from the board games collection.”