The Crown Wharf, in Stone, was named the overall Great British Pub of the Year in the Great British Pub Awards, after judges were impressed with its achievements in a short space of time.
Not many new pubs are being built in this current market, and few built to the standards of excellence as the Crown Wharf, which initially took the title of Town Pub of the Year.
Standout site
Created as a standout brewery tap site for owners Joules, work started on the site, the original location for one of the first of the company’s breweries, back in 2019, before grinding to a halt when Covid struck.
Using mainly reclaimed and recycled materials, the pandemic left only a skeleton crew of two joiners working on the project, which finally opened its doors on 20 July 2021, the day after restrictions were lifted.
Part of the project also saw land gifted to the local community to build a community arts and theatre centre, attached to the pub, along with a heritage centre. Fundraising activities with the local community finally came to fruition and the full fitted out theatre opened in 2024, offering a full programme of professional and amateur performances to the arts lovers of Staffordshire.
Community asset
Judges were impressed with both the artistic rejuvenation of the local area, along with the economic boost as travellers flock into the town from far and wide to visit the stand out site.
The use of reclaimed materials extends to the decoration of the pub as well, a labour of love for former Joules chief executive Steve Nuttall who has brought memorabilia from across the Joules estate to represent the business throughout the new build site.
Overall, Crown Wharf is a superb new build site that impressed judges with its blend of the modern and the traditional, to create an outstanding food and drink offer, along with a community asset which would be the envy of many.
