A POPULAR pub which stood empty for over ten years has risen from the ashes to be crowned the best boozer in Rugby.
The Rugby branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has named The Windmill Inn as its Pub of the Year for 2025.
The town centre pub was closed for over a decade until it was resurrected by Black Country Ales in 2019.
Since then, it has passed through a succession of landlords with what Rugby Camra described as ‘many false starts’ before Gemma and Andy Barber took over the reins 18 months ago.
Rugby Camra chairman Richard Potter said: “The couple, who only had two weeks experience of running the company’s sister pub in the town – the Raglan Arms – made an instant improvement. They had finally put the Windmill on a solid foundation.
“As well as selling a vast array of real ales, they are constantly promoting them too. They will be running four beer festivals this year as well as many tap takeover weekends. They also run bus trips to their favourite breweries, with Salopian happening very soon.
“They truly are deserving winners of the award.”
