The 2025 Nottingham LocAle Pub of the Year award was presented to the Vat & Fiddle, Nottingham on Thursday 7 August 2025. The pub ensured that there was plenty of local beer and ciders available on the night and customers were treated to the following choices:
• Lenton Lane – 36 North
• Little – Dragon
• Castle Rock – Harvest Pale; Elsie Mo; Screech Owl; Preservation; Oatmeal Stout; Our House; Interlace.
• Thirsty Farmer – Orange & Pinapple
• Thirsty Farmer – Strawberry
So how did The Vat & Fiddle win the award and what exactly is LocAle? LocAle is the campaign that Nottingham branch started as a result of the closure of Hardys & Hansons brewery in 2006. Pubs are accredited to the scheme as long as they offer at least one local beer or cider and the quality of the beer or cider is consistently good. For the beer to be deemed local it has to be brewed less than 20 miles from the pub and for cider a slightly higher mileage is allowed.
Since 2006 the scheme has been adopted nationally and within the Nottingham CAMRA branch area there are now over 150 locAle accredited pubs. In every edition of ND a number of pubs feature and from this list pubs (chosen by the public) advance to the final. In July and August judges visited the pubs and awarded marks for quality of beers and ciders; range of beers and ciders, and the amount of promotion of locAle that was undertaken by the pub.
Previous winners of the award were The Old Green Dragon, Oxton (2023 and 2024); Byrons Rest, Hucknall (2022); The Robin Hood (AND) Little John, Arnold (2021) The Miners Return, Kimberley (2020); The Star Inn, Beeston (2019); The Tap & Growler, Hilltop, Eastwood (2018); The Star, Beeston (2017); Horse & Jockey, Stapleford (2016); Lincolnshire Poacher (2015); Hand & Heart (2014); The Gate, Awsworth (2013) and The Flying Horse, Arnold (2012).
Congratulations therefore go to General Manager Danny Storer and the team, for becoming the 2025 Nottingham CAMRA LocAle pub of the Year.
On being told that the pub had won, Jon Harris, Assistant Manager and Chief Cellarman said
“We are absolutely made up to hear the Vat is being crowned Nottingham’s LocAle Pub of the Year. We’re committed to having at least 10 locally brewed beers on the bar – in fact, it’s usually as many as thirteen or fourteen – plus, a local cider or perry or two to boot. Given we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by an abundance of brilliant breweries, we don’t have to go far to be able to offer an exciting and diverse range of quality beers.”
Picture shows Andrew Ludlow, Nottingham CAMRA LocAle Officer, Nottingham CAMRA presenting the award to Jon (centre), and the team.
On the night of the presentation not only was there a great range of high-quality beers and ciders but customers were also treated to some rather Moorish home-made chocolate cakes.
“Old General and friends LocAle presentation”
