LANDLORD ENJOYS THE SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS

By Sue Briggs.

RATHER than champagne corks popping, a pint of real ale was pulled instead to celebrate a trio of victories at a Walmer pub.

For the third year in succession The "Berry," in Canada Road, has won the Deal, Dover, Sandwich and district CAMRA branch Pub of the Year award.

Landlord Chris Barnes, 27, said: "I am very pleased and delighted with the win, especially three times in a row."

He has been at The Berry for five years and has always been in the pub business, since enjoying his work experience in the trade.

Tony Wells, the pubs officer for the Campaign for Real Ale branch, said: "The Berry just goes from strength to strength and shows what can be achieved if you put the right person behind the bar.

"Chris understands what a good real ale pub should be all about. I firmly believe he rightly deserves this award as it reflects the hard work he has been doing in serving good quality real ale and cider as well as supporting CAMRA's aims.

"Just being selected for entry into the competition is no mean feat. The pub has to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to quality real ale throughout the year."

Mr Wells added that Chris, who has been at The "Berry" since 2005, had enjoyed remarkable success. Within a year he gained entry into CAMRA's Good Beer Guide and became eligible for the POTY award.

By 2008, he had won it for the first time.

Having won the local award, The "Berry" now goes forward into CAMRA's East Kent Pub of the Year competition. The POTY presentation takes place on Saturday, June 5.

From the Dover Mercury, 16June, 2011. 70p

THE BERRY IS THE PICK OF THE BUNCH IN EAST KENT

A JAR of American Pale Ale was pulled, raised and drunk by Chris Barnes to mark a special day at his Walmer public house.

The Berry in Canada Road, Walmer, has been named CAMRA East Kent Pub of the Year 2011, against other bars in the Canterbury, Ash, Folkestone, Romney Marsh, Faversham and Thanet area.

The win was no small beer for Mr Barnes, who described the achievement as great news.

He added: "It is quite a big win and I am going to celebrate with a jar of real ale - Dark Star American Pale Ale.

"I would like to thank all for their support We couldn't have done it without you!" Chris and his team won numerous real ale and real cider awards in 2010 and has now won the CAMRA East Kent Pub of the Year for the fourth year in succession. CAMRA Dover and Sandwich branch pub officer Tony Wells said: "This award recognises the top pub based on its real ale, welcome, service, atmosphere, decor, customer mix, support for CAMRA aims and overall value.

"Chris and The Berry represent the community pub at its best; a great welcome, a friendly atmosphere and a fantastic range of good quality real ales and ciders.

''The future of the community pub is uncertain with excessive taxes and irresponsible alcohol retailing by the supermarkets. So it is great to see that it is still possible to find a successful community pub."

Mr Barnes has been at The Berry for six years and has served more than 1,100 different real ales to his customers.

• For more information bout CAMRA visit www.camra.co.uk and to find out bout the Dover and Sandwich branch go to www.camra-dds.co.uk

Change of name after school closed

The pub in Canada Road, Walmer, changed its name from the "Green Beret" to the "Green Berry" in 1996 after the closure of the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal, and again in 2004 to the "Berry".

According to The Old Pubs of Deal and Walmer (with Kingsdown and Mongeham) by Steve GIover and Michael Rogers. In the early 1960s one of the horses from the barracks was photographed attempting to buy a pint.