CAMRA award leaves London licensee lost for words

Christine Cryne, a North London CAMRA branch member and a national director, presented Adrian Larner with a certificate for his support for real ale in his pub last week. 

Larner is the licensee of the Calthorpe Arms, Gray's Inn Road, on the fringes of Bloomsbury.

Saying thank you​

Cryne said: “The branch is celebrating 40 years of campaigning this year and we thought it might be nice to say thank you to a number of landlords that have been supportive of the branch over many, many years.

“The Calthorpe has been in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 28 times. While Adrian has been in charge, the pub has won the north London branch's Pub of the Year three times and he has developed a reputation for the Calthorpe serving one of the best pints of Young's Bitter in the branch area.

“In addition, Adrian has provided a lot of support for the branch, from acting as the distribution point for CAMRA's London Drinker​ magazine, hosting the branch's annual general meeting and regularly displaying CAMRA's promotional material. This award is just a way for the branch to say thank you.”

Larner has run the Calthorpe for over two decades and has made this traditional corner pub a welcoming place for both regulars and visitors alike. Owned by Young's, the pub now stocks guest beers with the familiar Young's Beers including Special and Winter Warmer alongside 'The Ordinary'.