Harrogate and Ripon CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) has announced its Pub of the Year for 2016 is 10 Devonshire Place in Harrogate.
The premises was refurbished and re-opened by new owner Andi Aikman in late 2014. Andi is by no means new to running a bar venue, having previously been involved in running Jimmy’s on Kings Road in Harrogate.
From opening, the bar developed a good following, based on a wide selection of beers and spirits. It added a further offering to the High Harrogate area, complementing the already established Swan on the Stray.
Andi said:
It hasn’t been easy over the last year and it has needed a lot of hard work. As owner, I am in here every day, but I like to employ people that are better than me.
What I mean is that I have people that are good at what they do, being behind the bar or selecting the beers that we have.
We also like to think that we put things on that people actually like, you need to look at what your customers want and what will make them want to come to you. For instance Dj Trev’s Sunday evening quiz has worked well and we often have live music. It’s about given more than just the beer!
We are proud to have one of the largest ranges of craft beers in the area, not just bottled, but on draft.
But most of all I would like to thank all our loyal customers.
If you like your beers then you will be spoilt for choice from a very attentive and knowledgeable team of bar staff. It is not difficult to see why CAMRA have given them an award.
Allan Gauld from CAMRA said:
We were delighted that the tired old Devonshire Arms had been given a new lease of life in a new guise but didn’t think it would come so far in a short time.
Opening as recently as November 2014 it’s a marvellous achievement to be named pub of the year and reflects the hard work and dedication of the team at 10 Devonshire Place.
This unique and quirky pub adds to the thriving pub scene in Harrogate and helps to cement the town’s growing reputation as a “beer destination.
