The Stroud CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year, The Carpenters Arms, Miserden, was presented with their award on a day of unseasonably pleasant September weather. The event was supported by CAMRA members from across the Stroud Valleys who had all made the trek to this countryside idyll in Miserden – George Hill, Chas Townley, Bob Brooks, Tony Hill, Bob Jeffrey and Bill Hicks (our photographer). Also joining us from Cheltenham were Dave Appleing, his father and a family friend who specifically to attend the presentation and enjoy the ciders.
On the real cider front the pub’s usual offerings from Westons and Thatchers were supplemented by ciders from Dunkerton’s, Gwynt y Ddraig, Rich’s and Severn Cider.
On behalf of Stroud CAMRA Tony Hill presented a framed certificate to Kevin Allin, the landlord. Further photos were taken of the award on the bar where it sits alongside the 2019 and 2020 awards, Kevin and manager Ben Preston, and Kevin with wife Debbie.
This pub has perfectly adapted to the Covid trading environment with the car park having been gravelled to provide additional outdoor space.
The Carpenters Arms is a stone-built, 17th century Cotswold pub, it was originally a carpenter’s shop that became a pub around 100 years ago. The low-beamed bar features bare stone walls, a large inglenook open fire and many interesting pictures and artefacts on the walls. There are seats out in front and to the side. The pub is dog and children friendly, and gets rave reviews for food, service and friendliness on Trip Advisor.
The village and the Carpenters Arms stood in for Slad for the new production of Laurie Lee’s Cide
with Rosie broadcast on the BBC in 2018. Miserden was chosen as the location with the Carpenters Arms standing in for the Woolpack because, unlike Slad, there are no overhead wires, satellite dishes or uPVC windows – by order of the Miserden Estate.
The survival of a village pub is important if the community is to maintain its identity and be more than just a commuter dormitory. The pub is indeed the hub – an infinite resource for locals, regulars, villagers and the publicans who stamp them with their personalities and idiosyncrasies.
A pub is a many splendoured thing that can be home to live music, exhibitions, chess, a knitting circle, a literary club, motorcycle club, sports clubs and the whole gamut of local societies, campaigns and interest groups. It may be a Mecca for beer lovers or the home of fine dining. A pub is for everyone and everyone has their pub.
As John Earle wrote in 1628, it is ‘the busy man’s recreation, the idle man’s business, the melancholy man’s sanctuary, the stranger’s welcome, the scholar’s kindness and the citizen’s courtesy.’
Tony Hill