Welcome to Norwich. - Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA

The Baum, Rochdale, Lancashire
has been crowned the best pub
in Britain by CAMRA, the
Campaign for Real Ale.
CAMRA’s National Pub of the
Year competition recognises all
the criteria that make a great
pub, including atmosphere,
decor, welcome, service, value
for money, customer mix, but
most importantly, the quality of
the beer. The building, which
sits next door to the Pioneers
Museum, which is the original
Co-op store, has only been a
pub for around 30 years and
was converted from Morris’s
Hardware Store in the 1980’s.
Simon Crompton, one of the
owners, started work in The
Baum in 1993 and became
manager in 1994. In 2005,
Simon and his wife Heidi, who
co-owns the business, bought
the pub just two days after
having their first child.
On hearing the news, Heidi
Crompton said, “We were
ecstatic to hear that we had
been voted CAMRA’s National
Pub of the Year. We are very
proud of the team that have
played an important role in The
Baum’s success and it is a testament
to their hard work that
the consumers have recognised
our pub with this prestigious
award.”
Heidi continued, “We are a
family run pub with our values
influencing every aspect of the
business in relationships with
our staff and suppliers. We are
dedicated to the ‘buy local,
shop local’ initiative, always
willing to support independent
businesses. The support from
the regular customers and local
CAMRA members is valued and
we would like to thank everyone
for their continued support.”
NORFOLK NIPS | CAMRA News
Converted Hardware Store
Judged Britain’s Best Pub!
CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide
2013 describes the pub as “A
split-level hostelry with old
world charm next door to the
world’s first co-operative store.
The Baum has eight handpumps,
one dedicated to cider,
and a large variety of continental
bottled beers. Excellent
food includes vegetarian
dishes, with a tapas menu
available throughout the week.
There is an upstairs dining /
function room. The large rear
garden, over looked by a
conservatory, contains two fullsize
pétanque pistes.”
The other finalists were:
Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, Wales
– winner of CAMRA’s National
Pub of the Year last year and
the first Welsh winner of this
award. Taken over by the
McGivern family in 2009, it
sells five different real ales.
Conqueror Alehouse,
Ramsgate, Kent – Ramsgate’s
smallest free house, where ale
and cider are served straight
from barrels. It offers a quiet,
music and TV free atmosphere
in which to enjoy a pint or two.
Tom Cobley Tavern,
Spreyton, Devon – a former
CAMRA National Pub of the
Year in 2006, it sells 14
different real ales every week,
plus 20 ciders in a pub that is
‘part of the community life’.
SPRING 2013 | 29