Hail to the Ale micropub in Claregate has triumphed again in the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) pub of the year competition following its Wolverhampton City Pub of the Year 2015 title win earlier this year. The micropub, which adheres to a set of conditions laid down by the Micropub Association such as selling only real ale, cider and fruit wine and shunning gambling machines has been awarded West Midlands County Pub of the Year, seeing off hot competition from the cream of real ale pubs in the West Midlands. Voting is conducted by eligible CAMRA members, who visit all pubs per round of the competition scoring on beer quality, pub ambience, food and the sense of community fostered by the pub.

Proprietors Gary and Angela Morton were presented with the award by a West Midlands CAMRA representative in front of a full pub at the weekend, with Mr Morton thanking his staff and regular pub users for their success. A special ‘Celebration Ale’ was brewed by Morton Brewery for the occasion, selling out in under an hour.

The micropub now goes into the next round of voting, with locals hoping another celebration will be on the cards in the coming months.