A BELOVED boozer which was brought back into business by a ‘wonderful’ community effort has been crowned Rugby’s best pub.
The Rugby Tap has won Rugby Campaign for Real Ale’s (Camra) Pub of the Year award for 2024.
The Tap resumed pulling pints last autumn, having closed earlier in 2024 following the devastating losses of its landlord and head barman.
Landlady Sarah Quinton rallied the old regulars of the St Matthews Street micropub, who came together and raised the necessary funds to reopen their favourite bar.
Sarah, who was herself a regular at the Tap since it first opened ten years ago, thanked ‘all of the lovely Tap family’ for their ongoing support.
“I know some of them were canvassing on my behalf for pub of the year,” she said.
“I have a great little team that help to keep it all going, including my husband Gary who does lots of work in the background.
“I’m really proud to have created a unique offering for the town where anyone can come in and have a beer and a chat. It has been incredibly hard work but it has all been worth it because we have created a very special place.
“I am so grateful to have such a lovely little business. In our little row, we have three lady business owners all next to each other – and I think that is something to be proud of.”
Sarah said previous owner Mike Crane and former head barman Ken Devereux – who sadly passed away within months of each other in late 2023 and early 2024 – would be proud that their tap room was still going strong.
The award was voted for by the 380 Camra members in the Rugby area – with the Tap receiving twice as many votes as runner up The Windmill.
Rugby Camra chairman Richard Potter said: “Sarah and her team have worked tirelessly to get the Tap back on its feet.
“They have kept their loyal fan base from the Mike and Ken days and added extra customers by not only selling excellent real ales, but also an innovative range of craft ales.
“They are the only pub in town to serve direct from the cask, and specialise in local breweries such as Byatt’s, Phipps, Church End and Slaughterhouse.
“Sarah is thrilled to have been name our Pub of the Year, and it will now go forward to represent the town in the Warwickshire competition.”
