It's difficult running a pub in these testing times, with pub closures happening nearly every day round the country. However to be crowned Norfolk pub pub of the year has to be some achievement, but to John Craft it's the second time around for him.
After successfully running the King's Arms, in Hall Road, Norwich, for a number of years, John now is the landlord at the Artichoke, in Broome, and just gone and done it again.
After a closely fought contest between the Union Jack at Roydon (near King's Lynn), the Artichoke emerged as the winner.
John Craft, upon hearing the news, was very surprised: "I didn't think in a million years that I would get so far in the competition".
Graham Freeman, N&N CAMRA branch chairman, was delighted: "It only goes to show that if you run a pub well, get the basics right, good beer, excellent hospitality, the pub will thrive, especially in these tough economic times".
Andrea Briers, Competition Organiser, offered her congratulations to John: "Both pubs in this year's competition are excellent examples of thriving village pubs serving the local community, which gave a closely contested competition.
"For any pub to get this far is quite an achievement, I wish them well in the next stage of the competition".
The Artichoke, will now go on to feature in the next phase, where it will go up against other county winners from the likes of Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and others around the region.
The pub is open from 12-11 (not Mon), and is situated just off the A143 on the old Yarmouth road that runs through the village.
