The Black Horse has been awarded Pub of the Year for 2023 ahead of its 125th anniversary.

Out of nearly 400 pubs in Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Central Lancashire branch, the Friargate venue has been chosen for the award.

In 2022 the pub was re-listed by Historic England as a Grade II listed building amongst 11 pubs in the country, for its unique architecture and distinctive interior that sets it apart form the others.

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A presentation took place on Thursday 26 January to celebrate the people working hard behind the scenes, and the liveliness of the place that’s visited daily by locals and tourists.

Daniel Taylor, Landlord of the Black Horse, said: “I’m very proud, I’ve been in the pub for six years and the pub is turning 125 years, so to win this award is a big achievement.

“We pick up a lot of tourists who actually come to Preston, to see the only pub in the country to have three doors on three different streets. It’s a proper local in town.”

The pub has a quality selection of real ale and beer including guest ale supplied through Robinsons Brewery.

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The family-run brewery only supplies guest ale to five pubs out of its 260 pubs.

David Bremner, Director of Marketing at Robinsons Brewery, told Blog Preston that Dan has done an exceptional job in running the pub by focusing on a mature market.

David said: “He’s just come on in confidence, in offer, and the people he is attracting, it’s a really nice and safe environment.

“The biggest mistake you can make with a pub is to try and appeal to everyone, which can get confusing.”

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Local Chairman for CAMRA, Adrian Zawierka, said: “We’ve got 300 pubs in the branch; for one of them to win pub of the year that is putting them right up on a pedestal.”

In the closing speech Adrian talked about the historical importance of pubs and what makes one stand out.

He said: “Back in the 60s and 70s, brewers across the country were ripping pubs apart, taking down walls, knocking down partitions, taking out tiled flooring and putting vinyl down.

“Not here. This pub is magnificent and it’s all part of what makes this place so special.

“We judge pubs on an awful lot of different criteria – the quality of the beer they sell, the range of beer and other products, the atmosphere, the welcomed service, the friendliness, the ambience of the premises and if it’s got a wow factor.

“Well this pub has got that wow factor; it has got all the oomph.”

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