Swiggin in Wiggin : September 2012 - Wigan

The Berkeley - Wigan CAMRA Pub of the Season, Summer 2012
At our branch meeting held in late August, our
members voted on the Pub of the Season for
summer, and the clear favourite was the Berkeley
situated in the Town Centre on the corner of
Wallgate and King Street.
In its previous life the building was called the
Minorca Hotel, and WiganWorld website shows
photos of trams in the 1890’s advertising “Minorca
Grill Room” and “Ladies Tea Room”, as well as one
in the 1930’s having Magee’s Ales adverts on
the outside walls, from Magee-Marshalls Crown
brewery in Bolton
It will be remembered by many as a Berni Inn in
the 1960’s and 70’s, before having a short period
as “Blairs” in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, and
more recently Berkeley Square, before settling on
it’s current name as The Berkeley.
The pub has received several awards previously
since being presented with best new cask outlet in
July 2006 and under the management of Jon and
Victoria Ambrose won Pub of the Season in Spring
2008.
The Pub was also entered into the Good Beer
Guide, was given LocAle accreditation, and under
Jon’s management from October 1992 as “Blairs”
through to February 2011 had a growing reputation
for serving quality beer.
In January 2011, the pub closed for refurbishment
but Jon chose to move out of the licensed trade
after 19 years. While a new manager was sought,
the pub was run by one of the directors of the
owners, Amber Taverns, for a short while until a
new manager was appointed.
This break in continuity meant that the under
CAMRA policy the pub had to be removed from the
Good Beer Guide until the required standards had
been confirmed. This has now been achieved and
the pub returns to the 2013 Good Beer Guide.
The new management couple, Cliff and Shirley
Beech moved from another Good Beer Guide entry
pub - The Steamer on Queens Terrace, Fleetwood.
A Blackpool and Fylde entry, they took over in
March 2007 having previously been in charge of
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the Old Bridge Inn and The Rose and Crown on
Birley Street in Blackpool.
Cliff is a lover of real ale, and likes a wide choice
of beers but admits his favourite tipple to be Old
Peculiar. He rotates a wide variety of beers and
the pub averages 14 x 9 gallon firkins a week,
ensuring a healthy throughput but confirms that
the amount sold is growing.
Although born in the east end of London, one time
Blue coat and entertainer at Pontins Blackpool,
Cliff gained a Bass Cellarmanship award at both
The Steamer and the Old Bridge Inn so knows
how to take care of cask-conditioned beer and
insists on cleaning the lines himself. The couple
will celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary next
March with a well earned holiday to Mexico on the
cards!
The character of The Berkeley changes as the
week and hours of the weekend roll by. At times
a major hub for watching the big game sports on
probably the largest screen in a Wigan pub, plus
many smaller TV screens, changing to a lively disco
mode on the weekends as part of the busy King
Street - for the young and not so young at heart.
Live music is also on some Fridays and Sunday
evenings.
Making the award to Cliff and Shirley, branch
Chairman Pete Marsh commended the couple for
the quality of beers and the giant steps made in
promoting cask ales. Proving once again that there
is a place and growing demand for our treasured
tipple in town centre pubs.