Couple scoops cider pub award at new Denver venue

The former landlords of a popular railway station micropub are continuing their award-winning track record at their new venue in West Norfolk.

Ian and Lesley Pinches ran the Railway Arms at Downham’s station until its sudden closure in October 2016, following a rent dispute with the site’s owners.

But now the couple are back in business and have been presented with the West Norfolk CAMRA group’s Cider Pub of the Year award for the Blackstone Engine Bar at Denver Mill.

Group chairman Steve Barker made the presentation alongside Andrea Briers, the national chairman of the group’s cider branch, Apple.

Ian said he and Lesley were honoured to be recognised in their first year of trading at the site, which offers a range of mainly local ciders, many from the Downham Cider Company, as well as beers from the Denver-based Two Rivers brewery.

During their time at the Railway Arms, the couple scooped CAMRA’s national cider pub award, as well as many local and regional prizes. Mr Barker said he hoped the latest award would be the first of many for the couple at the Denver premises.