THE KING and Castle at Kidderminster Railway Station has been named pub of the year.
The hostelry, operated by Severn Valley Railway, was given the gold award by the Wyre Forest branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
The accolade follows a rigorous judging process with pubs first nominated onto a shortlist and then independently assessed by CAMRA members acting as ‘secret shoppers’.
Criteria considered by judges included drink quality, staff knowledge, decor and atmosphere, welcome, and community focus.
Wyre Forest CAMRA chair Rob Budworth said: “There are so many good pubs in Wyre Forest.
“Over 100 pubs sell beer, and probably 30 of them are top real ale pubs that could put them into contention.
“Unfortunately, we can only have a limited number of winners.”
The Severn Valley Railway’s visitor experience manager, Nicky Freeman, added: “Our team has worked incredibly hard to establish the King and Castle as a true community hub, under the leadership of joint managers Chris Dainty and Kat Forty.
“Chris has been instrumental in maintaining exceptional standards across our beer selection, while Kat has transformed the venue’s social offering with a vibrant programme of live music, quizzes and al fresco events on our beautiful station concourse.
“This award is a fantastic recognition of the whole team’s dedication.”
The King and Castle pub is open between midday and 4pm every Tuesday to Sunday.
