Hunts pubs win prizes

IF you fancy a pint, there are two Huntingdonshire places that come highly recommended by Camra, the Campaign for Real Ale. The Huntingdonshire branch has just made the Mad Cat pub in Pidley its pub of the year and and the Market Inn, Huntingdon, the most

IF you fancy a pint, there are two Huntingdonshire places that come highly recommended by Camra, the Campaign for Real Ale.

The Huntingdonshire branch has just made the Mad Cat pub in Pidley its pub of the year and and the Market Inn, Huntingdon, the most improved pub.

The Mad Cat, which won most improved pub last year, will now enter the county stage of the competition.

Landlords Darren Tomkins and Sinead Nicholson, who took over the pub in 2007, said they were delighted.

Mr Tomkins said the secret of the Mad Cat's success was "atmosphere, good quality beer and fantastic food at fantastic prices".

Customers can sup real ales from brewers such as Elgoods in Wisbech and from Church End Brewery in Peterborough.

Huntingdonshire CAMRA chairman Keith Lawson, who lives in Godmanchester, said: "Darren and Sinead run the Mad Cat as a welcoming community local and from the start adopted a firm emphasis on good local beers. We are delighted to give them this award."

David Norman, manager of the Market Inn, said he was extremely pleased, especially as the pub is now also listed in Camra's Good Beer Guide.

"I have taken measures to improve the quality of the ale. Camra members have been drinking in the pub and they have said they are very happy with the beer we serve."

The awards were announced by Camra to mark Local Pubs Week, which runs from February 28 to March 7.

Mr Lawson said: "The latest surveys show that, nationally, five pubs are closing every day. Pubs need more support through these difficult times and Local Pubs Week aims to raise the profile and importance of pubs and encourage people to use community pubs more often.