The chairman of the Tayside Campaign for Real Ale has challenged pubs in Angus to go up against award-winning bars in the rest of Scotland.
The call from Alan Lawson follows success for the Marine Hotel in Stonehaven, which was named pub of year for the Aberdeen, Grampian and Northern Isles branch of the organisation this week.
Angus bars have struggled to match the success of counterparts in Perthshire and Dundee when it comes to the Tayside region’s awards, with few offering a wide selection of real ales.
However Mr Lawson suggested the tide could turn, with uptake on the rise in several pubs in Montrose and Arbroath.
“Angus has not been the strongest of real ale areas in the past but there are more places that are starting to sell now,” he said.
“A few people are beginning to dip their toe in the water and the number of pubs selling real ale in the likes of Montrose has gone up from two to six inside the last year.
“It is really missionary work promoting real ale in these places and there is no reason why Angus can’t have a good real ale scene.”
The campaign aims to promote and preserve real ales and members visit pubs to judge their selection. Each region holds pub awards every year, with the most successful bars making it the organisation’s annual Good Beer Guide.
Mr Lawson said, “Our awards will be in the summer so we are a few months away before any of that will happen. I suppose the usual four or five really outstanding pubs that do well every year will be up there as contenders.
“We had the Ericht Alehouse in Blairgowrie taking the title last year and the Phoenix in Dundee doing very well to come in as runner-up.”
The Marine Hotel has now won its section of the competition for the last three years in a row, judged on criteria including quality of beer, atmosphere, decor, service, welcome and value for money.