A LYTHAM pub is certainly not bitter after being named Fylde Coast Pub of the Year by beer aficionados.

The Hole In One in Forest Drive is being presented with its award by the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) tonight (July 29).

Branch chairman Ray Jackson said: "The Hole in One has never won this award before, but it has served real ale of a consistently high standard for the past 12 months.

"It's a Thwaites pub and sells only their traditional bitter. It was up against stiff competition from others that serve seven or eight bitters and for a pub to win with only one is a great honour."

Judging took place when previous licensee Dave Duckworth was in charge, but his successor Stuart Price, who took over only seven weeks ago, was delighted with the award. "It's a fabulous pub," said Stuart, who has been with Thwaites 13 years and came here from Manchester with his wife Pat. "The locals have been very welcoming, they've made us feel very much at home, and we've already doubled the quantity of beer we're selling.

"Now the refurbishment's complete it's made it more like a traditional pub - our motto is that we're a pub that sells food, not a restaurant that sells beer and I think people like that.

"It's more informal now, we offer value for money which is what a community pub aims for, and the community's obviously liking it judging by the increase in business."

Runners up in this year's CAMRA awards were the Saddle Inn, Blackpool, the Cartford Arms in Little Eccleston, the Taps in Lytham and the Shovels, Marton.

Ironically the two top pubs, the Hole in One and Saddle, will not be in next year's CAMRA Good Beer Guide as they both had changes of landlord in the past 12 months, but, said Mr Jackson, they would be publicised in the campaign's newsletter.

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