Chalke Valley pub scoops Country Pub of the Year for third time!
Raising a glass to The Horseshoe at Ebbesbourne Wake
Last updated 11th Apr 2022
The Horseshoe at Ebbesbourne Wake in the Chalke Valley has been voted Country Pub of the Year by members of the Salisbury & South Wilts Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). It is the third time in four years that the traditional inn with a fine range of real ales has won the award. No vote was held last year because of Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.
In an age when many pubs change hands regularly, The Horseshoe has a rare record of continuity – the same family has been running it for almost half a century. Tony and Pat Bath have been in charge for 36 years having taken over from Tony’s parents Tom and Glad. They have now been joined by their daughter Jayne Sanger.
All three were on hand to receive the award certificate from Ian Turner, chairman of the Salisbury & South Wilts Branch of CAMRA, who cycled ten miles from Salisbury, supported by a group of CAMRA members who took the less energetic option of travelling on the number 29 bus from the city!
“It is great to be back to present this well-deserved award,” s_aid Ian. “T_he Horseshoe has a winning formula: excellent food and well kept beer in a lovely pub in a beautiful area. It has featured in nearly every edition of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide and the Bath family has worked tirelessly to support real ale.”
Tony Bath said: “We work hard to achieve this and we would like to say thank you to CAMRA for voting for us.”
It's another bonus for the Chalke Valley which was recently voted the Sunday Times Best Place to Live in the South West.
Each year the Salisbury & South Wilts branch of CAMRA gives awards to two pubs in its area – one in the city of Salisbury and one in the towns and villages surrounding it. The prizewinner with the most votes – this year the Duke of York in Salisbury - is declared the overall Pub of the Year while the other becomes either the City Pub of the Year or the Country Pub of the Year.