The Rose and Crown in Bury St Edmunds scoops first West Suffolk CAMRA Chairman’s Choice Award in recognition of work by landlord Gordon Graham-Hall

A Bury St Edmunds pub has become the first recipient of a new award.

The West Suffolk branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) presented The Rose and Crown, in Whiting Street, with the Chairman’s Choice Award yesterday.

It adds to the group’s roster of accolades to give pubs in the area a boost and they decided the first Chairman’s Choice should recognise the work of landlord Gordon Graham-Hall who took over in September 2019.

It followed the retirement of Liz and Tony Fayers, who served customers for 33 years.

Martin Bate, vice-chairman of West Suffolk CAMRA, said: “Gordon has got his own group of loyal customers and he’s been very popular.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from CAMRA members to say the beer is good and Gordon’s doing a good job keeping good quality beers and an interesting range.”

Gordon thanked pub manager Claire Banham and the rest of his team.

He said he broke his ankle in December, which left him unable to work for three months, and the team did a great job covering for him.

Other awards run by the branch include four seasonal ones, pub of the year, cider pub of the year, club of the year as well as town and rural pub of the year.

The Rose and Crown won one of the winter seasonal accolades about a year ago.