Regulars whose local was under threat earlier this year from being turned into an American diner are celebrating after the pub picked up another award.
The Unicorn Inn on Adlington Road has been awarded the Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) Pub of the Season for the Cheshire East area.
Hickory's Smokehouse applied to extend the Unicorn Inn and convert its use from A4 (drinking establishment) to A3 (restaurant) in December 2014. However, the company withdrew their planning application three months later after a group of local residents, who set up a 'Save the Unicorn' campaign, collected over 1000 signatures on their petition and Wilmslow Town Council's planning committee recommended rejection of the application.
This latest award adds to the several accolades the Unicorn has achieved since the Save the Unicorn group was formed at the end of last year to fight against it's takeover by Hickory's Smokehouse.
In the last few months Cheshire East has agreed to list the pub as an Asset of Community Value and it achieved two scores of 100% from Cask Marque for the quality of the pubs real ales.
General manager Mary Barrett-Cassidy said "We are thrilled that CAMRA have recognised the hard work we have done in rebuilding the Unicorn's reputation in Cheshire East. We are looking forward to continuing to grow the business with the support of our local community".
Steve Cummings, speaking on behalf of the Save the Unicorn group said "We are very happy to see Mary and the team at the Unicorn receive the recognition they deserve from CAMRA. It's proof positive that we did the right thing in our campaign to save our local pub. With proper backing from Greene King the pub will continue to go from strength to strength."
The Unicorn will receive their award at presentation ceremony with CAMRA to be held on Tuesday 20th October.
Comments
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It just shows that a pub should be just that - a pub. A new-fangled diner with bright new steel and aluminium (I don't know - I'm just guessing that that is what the proposed development would have presented...) designed by people miles away who will never use it - and moreover care even less about the locals who regularly use it - is not always the answer to everything.
People power! It's like "Wolfie" Smith all over again.