A CARLISLE pub has been named as the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Cumbria pub of the year.

The Drovers Rest at Monkhill was named as the Solway CAMRA branch winner earlier this year and beat off The Manor Arms in Broughton in Furness and The Brook House in Eskdale to win the county-wide crown.

The pub is no stranger to awards having won this title on a number of occasions, and landlord Tom McMaster said that the community spirit of the pub was key to its success.

“It's a real community, local pub, that’s open to everyone,” said Tom.

News and Star: The Drovers RestThe Drovers Rest (Image: Archive)“I think what makes the difference at the Drovers is that anyone can come here.

“We have people bringing their cats in. We have people bring their dogs. People sit outside with their horses.

"Anyone's welcome and it's just got a really friendly atmosphere and apart from the fact that we've got a fantastic collection of everchanging beers and a really interesting food menu, it's more about the fact that we're just a really welcoming, friendly pub.”

Many pubs have felt the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis with some high-profile pubs – including the Shoulder of Mutton in Brampton and the Blue Bell in Dalston – closing their doors in the past few months, but Tom at the Drovers Rest said that business remained strong despite the current challenges.

“We hear about the cost of crisis and assume people want sort of save money and go for cheaper options, what we're finding is people are being more selective or they are choosing better quality,” said Tom.

"So, despite the challenges, we are actually seeing our business increasing since the cost of living because what we do is all homemade, with locally sourced produce made from scratch.

“l make everything here, put a lot of love into what we do, and I think that is what kind of people are looking for at the moment.”

The pub is well known for its food alongside its ever changing selection of ale having recently put on their 1,686th new ale – Fermata Friends.

The Drovers now goes forward to the West Pennines regional competition against The Swan with Two Necks in Pendleton and the Isle of Man Pub of the Year which is The Trafalgar in Ramsey.