Member Article

Bodega retains crown in top industry award

Real ale enthusiasts have voted the Bodega on Westgate Road in Newcastle ‘The Tyneside Pub of the Year’ for the second year running.

Voting was open to over 1,600 branch members in the CAMRA Tyneside & Northumberland Pub and Club of the Year Awards.

The Bodega, which also celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has established itself as a firm favourite amongst discerning pub and club goers in the City.

Ben Rae, bar manager at the Bodega, said: “Winning this award two years on the trot is a real accolade!

“CAMRA members are an astute group of people that appreciate the tremendous effort bars make to ensure their customers have the best quality beer served in perfect condition. We’ve beaten strong competition from 460 real ale outlets in the area to win again.

“I do a lot of research into the type of beers and craft ales we serve, half the fun is sampling the fantastic range of local ales available and sharing them with our customers.”

The Bodega is one of several pubs and bars owned by Sir John Fitzgerald Ltd, one of the best loved family firms in Newcastle and a North East institution dating back to the 1850s.

The company owns 21 bars and restaurant venues throughout the region and employs 550 staff.

Debbie Anderson, Director of Business at Sir John Fitzgerald Ltd, adds: “We are absolutely thrilled the Bodega has been nominated again by local CAMRA members the team at the Bodega are passionate about real ale and this win demonstrates their hard work and commitment.

“We’re a company with generations of experience in the North East hospitality industry and always strive to ensure that our service and drinks are second to none.”

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale is an independent, voluntary organisation campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights. It was formed in March 1971 by four men from the north-west who were disillusioned by the domination of the UK beer market by a handful of companies pushing products of low flavour and overall quality onto the consumer.

CAMRA now has 164,577 members across the world, and has been described as the most successful consumer campaign in Europe. It supports well-run pubs as the centres of community life – whether in rural or urban areas – and believes their continued existence play a critical social role in UK culture today.

http://www.thebodeganewcastle.co.uk/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Narrative Integrated Communications .