A PUB-OWNING couple have toasted their third award in three years for their vast range of real ciders.
Anthony and Selina Goldstraw have run the Strathmore Arms, in Holwick, since late 2011 and have slowly increased the number of apple brews in their cellar.
Their stocks swell to more than 30 mini-casks at the height the summer and Darlington Camra (the Campaign for Real Ale) has recognised the pub’s effort by crowning it Country Cider Pub of the Year for the third year in a row.
Mr Goldstraw was delighted with the accolade.
He said: “We’re very happy – we started off three years ago just with a couple of real ciders and once we realised how popular they were we increased the number.
“There are other places around here that stock it but not as many as us.”
Mr Goldstraw said the Strathmore Arms had one of the widest ranges of real ciders you could find outside of the heartlands of Herefordshire and Somerset.
The popularity of a pint of scrumpy on a hot day has led the couple establishing their own cider festival held in the first week of October to follow their beer festival in July.
He added: “People tend to be pleasantly surprised by the number and there are some wonderful ones out there.
“Real ale and real cider are the real growth markets at the moment in the pub industry. The pub trade isn’t going so well at the moment but the real cider revolution is keeping pubs going – especially those country pubs further afield.”
The pub keeps five or six ciders going through the winter time but once Easter arrives the number increases to 20 and peaks at about 30 during the summer months.
Mr Goldstraw added: “It’s just another reason for people to come out and enjoy a country pub with a refreshing pint.”
Brewer and Darlington Camra cider representative Pete Fenwick paid tribute to The Strathmore Arms and its “massive passion” for cider.
Mr Fenwick added: “They started off a few years back and it’s just grown year on year – it was only pipped to the regional cider award a couple of years ago.
“Anthony and Selina do a cracking job as landlord and landlady – they are great ambassadors for real cider.”
