Community pub presented with Rural Pub of The Year Award
The Racehorse Inn, Westhall near Halesworth has been presented with the award for Rural Pub of the Year by North East Suffolk CAMRA Chairman, Mike Davey. Steve Gray (left) receiving award from Mike Davey The award was presented on Saturday 20 th May to Steve Gray, a co-founder of the pub. Mr Gray, 66, also works part-time in the local beer and wine business, with Adnams. He has good contacts in the trade, which were helpful when establishing the pub. “From humble beginnings, 3½ years ago, to Rural Pub of the Year is pretty good” said Mr Gray. “We started by running a bar at the village hall, once a month, then formed a committee focused on trying to buy the pub” Funding to buy the pub was obtained through the profits from the pop-up bar, from a share sale scheme and from the government’s Community Fund. “We opened just before Covid hit, then were closed down. We survived by doing take-outs. “Getting into the Good Beer Guide this year has been a boost”. Apparently,...