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 Forresters Arms, Kilburn  The Forresters Arms in Kilburn is a mellow, stone building, which occupies a prime position on the square in this attractive village. Just through the door there’s a comfortable little sitting room, with sofa, armchairs and a fireplace You go through a sliding door into the heart of the pub, a cosy bar area, with beams and a variety of quirky furniture, a mix of leather chairs, bar stools, a settle and small tables. Many of the pieces are from the famous Mouseman workshop in the village and bear its distinctive emblem. There’s a separate dining room tucked away up a few steps behind a wall, so food isn’t intrusive. Well-kept beers regularly available include John Smith’s Cask, Tetley’s Cask Bitter and one from Hambleton; we had Stud followed by Bitter. They also sell Hambleton GFA, the gluten free bottled beer, in response to a customer’s needs. Brian Barber, who lives very close by, presented the award to licensee Fiona Gould. He chose the pub because he reckons Fiona looks after her customers superbly; it’s open all day, it serves real ale and she is doing a great job in keeping the country pub tradition thriving, offering a warm welcome to all comers. When it changed hands in 2007 there were the inevitable fears that come with a new owner. While the last few months have seen many changes, all have been positive and the pub is a credit to Fiona and her team. Accepting the award, Fiona said that she shares our ethos; her aim is to keep real ale in a real pub – not a restaurant – and to preserve a great tradition. She was full of praise for Hambleton’s proprietor Nick Stafford, from whom she’s had great service and support. Nick joined in too, happy to concur with the sentiments expressed by the others (and to make a more than generous contribution to the bar bill!). The photo shows, from left to right, Brian, Fiona and Nick.  Fiona is one of the most enthusiastic, laid back and genuine landladies I’ve ever met. Although she had previous experience running the Water Mill in Pateley Bridge, she’d been out of the trade for a number of years when she heard that the Forresters was for sale. She’d missed working in pubs, though, so had little hesitation in buying it; she’s been carrying out a steady programme of refurbishment over the last 18 months, trying to go back in time with the decor. The pub is doing well, thanks to Fiona’s simple formula; she offers food, drink and accommodation all day every day of the week. Locals are well-looked after, with birthday treats for example. She has a good team, all of whom are required to demonstrate they can pull a pint to the satisfaction of the locals before being taken on. Next up, she’s going to install a further handpump so she can offer another local ale and she plans to alter a little-used dining room to make it more appealing to walkers. We had a great evening here; thanks to all for the hospitality, which included a big buffet, and the genuine welcome. |
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