Albion Ale House
The Albion Ale House or The Albion is a Grade II listed public house in Conwy, North Wales.[1] Built in 1921, it is a three-room pub with Art Nouveau decor that underwent major renovation in 2012.[2] The Albion is jointly operated by four North Wales breweries and real ales from these breweries and other beers are served through eight hand pumps.[3] The Albion Ale House was named the 2013 Wales Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA),[4] and named one of the world's best bars by The Guardian.[5]
Albion Ale House | |
---|---|
Location | Uppergate Street Conwy, Wales |
Coordinates | 53.28°N 3.83°W |
Built | 1921 |
Restored | 2012 |
Architectural style(s) | Art Nouveau |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Designated | 30 December 2005 |
Reference no. | 1207638 |
Location in Conwy County |
The four breweries that co-run The Albion are Conwy Brewery of Llysfaen, Bragdy Nant of Llanrwst, Great Orme Brewery of Llandudno, and Purple Moose Brewery of Porthmadog.[3]
History
The Albion was built in 1921 on the site of a previous pub.[1] By mid-2010 the ale house was not profitable and had fallen into disrepair. It was sold by its owner, Punch Taverns, to Arthur Ellis, a local businessman.[6] The Albion remained closed for a year while renovation work was carried out at a total cost of £100,000.[3][7] Ellis arranged for the four local breweries to co-operate in running the pub on its reopening.[3]
The Albion Ale House reopened in February 2012. The renovated pub received the English Heritage Conservation Award in the 2014 CAMRA Pub Design Awards.[8] The interior of the Albion appears on the cover of the Britain's Best Real Heritage Pubs guide published by CAMRA.[9]
References
- "Albion Public House, Conwy". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. 30 December 2005. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- "Conwy, Albion Ale House – An historic pub interior of national importance". heritagepubs.org.uk. 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- "Rival breweries join to reopen The Albion pub in Conwy". BBC.co.uk. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- "Albion Ale House in Conwy is CAMRA Wales Pub of the Year". Daily Post. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- Turner, Robin (30 November 2012). "The best bars in the world". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- "Men behind the cask – how North Wales microbrewers have turned round the fortunes of an ailing Conwy alehouse". Wales Online. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- Jones, Mari (18 August 2011). "Albion Pub in Conwy to be taken over by four local breweries". Daily Post. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- "CAMRA UK Pub Design Award winners". camra.org.uk. 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- Williams, Mike (9 May 2013). "Conwy pub will grace the cover of a UK heritage pub guide". North Wales Pioneer. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.