The owners of a popular Alston pub say it feels like they are now “back on the map” after being named summer pub of the season by the Solway branch of CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale.
Guy and Helen Harmer, of the Cumberland Inn, were presented with the award at a ceremony which took place on Tuesday.
A spokesman said: “The Cumberland Inn is no stranger to our branch awards having already been three times winners of our branch pub of the year award, branch cider pub of the year award and pub of the season award.
“The Cumberland Inn has been owned and run by Guy and Helen Harmer for over 20 years. Their hospitality experience is very varied, ranging from four-star hotels to a pair of 70ft. narrow boats.
“Helen and Guy provide a warm, family welcome based on old-fashioned hospitality, homemade food, comfortable accommodation and superb real ales and ciders.
“The Cumberland is an impressive Victorian building, located on Townfoot (A686) at the foot of the very steep Front Street in the high market town of Alston. In warmer weather you can take advantage of the new outdoor deck area and enjoy a superb view of the beautiful South Tyne valley.
“The traditionally furnished bar is fairly large, but retains a cosy, friendly atmosphere. The view from the window to the west is superb. Excellent meals are served in the bar and the separate restaurant. Three star bed and breakfast accommodation is available. The five comfortable bedrooms are all en-suite.
“The Cumberland’s regular real ale is Firebrick Blaydon Brick. This is accompanied by three changing real ales, often from local breweries. The real ales are always kept in excellent condition. They are listed on the prominent pub notice board that tells customers the strength of each beer, a brief description of what they taste like and the location of each brewery. Very useful when you encounter a new beer and wonder what it’s like.
“The Cumberland is a well-run, friendly inn serving excellent food and real ale. It is a worthy winner of our award.”
Guy told the Herald it was nice to receive the award as it means that they are now “back on the map” after the COVID interruptions.
“It feels like we are back in the game again,” he said.
Guy and Helen came to the pub in 2002. Before that they ran a pair of narrowboats as a hotel along all the connected inland waterways they could, including canals and rivers, anywhere between London, Liverpool, Nottingham and Bristol.
They did that for seven years, but had to stop because Helen was pregnant with their first child and they were offering child free holidays. Rachel was six months old when they got to The Cumberland while son Tom has just finished his first year at university.
“We appreciate where we stand in the market. We are not aiming to be Michelin star dining, but we are a pub with good pub grub and we source the best ingredients for the price” said Guy.
“When we started I was the chief cook, bottle washer and everything, but as you get busier you can’t do all of the work.
“I make the menus and I will do the cooking shifts as well along with a team of three.”
He said they are finding their curries which they make all in-house are increasingly popular, along with traditional dishes like steak and ale pie and scampi.
“We mainly cater for people who come through on holiday or who are visiting for business who want to be fed at the end of the day.
“It’s hearty fare, big portions, and we make sure people are not hungry after walking across Cross Fell,” said Guy.
Drinks-wise, pre-COVID they always had four cask ales on the go, but then had to go down to two because the throughput just wasn’t there.
“It was only last week that we went back up to four. We are serving four cask ales now, instead of three, which I had been for most of the last couple of years” said Guy.
“This week, we have house beer, the Blazing Brick. That comes from the Firebrick brewery on Tyneside and we also have their summer special which is called Heatwave.
“We have got a brew from the Whitley Bay brewery, Spanish City Blonde, and Hadrian and Border’s Tyneside Brown.” said Guy.
Using government bounce-back loans and money they have managed to save, they have been investing in the premises.
“We are opening a function suite which is for up to 50 people in the basement which has been a long-term project that is just about finished now.” said Guy.
“Over COVID we opened up the original level of the patio with a covered area so we could offer seating outside and we have also got an upstairs area now. That opened three weeks ago and has been proving very popular in the hot weather.
“We are running away with record takings at the minute.
“In the last year, there has been a six-figure investment in the fabric of the pub. We have had new boilers and piping put in to make the place suitable for the next 50 years coming.
“We get good support from the locals. They do know that we are here and what we do and they can recommend us wholeheartedly without fear. Paul Claringbold, vice-chairman of Solway CAMRA, said what makes the Cumberland Inn stand out is the quality and range of the beer and also the pleasantness of the staff.
“Helen and Guy have been running this pub for 22 years so they must be doing something right because of the awards they have won.”
Of the outside patio area, he said: “You have got a wonderful view along the valley. On a good sunny day, sitting out there with a pint of beer or a pint of cider, I can’t think of anything better.”
The Solway CAMRA area stretches from Silloth to Alston and Penrith across to Mungrisdale and includes 140 to 150 pubs.
“To win our award is a big accolade for the pub,” said Paul.
Check out the cask beers available at the Cumberland at http://www.cumberlandalston.co.uk/
