A central Macclesfield pub has raised a glass to their latest award success.

It's cheers to the Castle in Macclesfield, which has scooped the Best Pub award in the 2024 Mild Magic Ale Trail, organised by Stockport and South Manchester CAMRA.

The annual ale trail, now in its 30th year, covered 100 pubs in and around the Manchester area, and, for the first time, pubs in Macclesfield were invited to join in. The Castle was voted Best Pub for mild ale by thirsty drinkers, but that's not all.

One of the many milds that the pub served up in the five week trail, Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby, was voted Best Mild of the Trail. So it was only fitting that both awards should be made at the pub.

Darren Berry (right), with Simon Massey, owner of Sarah Hughes Brewery. (Image - SSM CAMRA)

Sarah Hughes Brewery is based at the Beacon Hotel in Sedgeley in the West Midlands, and the owner, Simon Massey, travelled up to Macclesfield to receive the award. He revealed that 60% of the Dark Ruby output went to the Beacon, but was delighted that some was available for other pubs to enjoy.

So when Castle regular Kevin Rothwell heard that the pub was participating in Mild Magic, he asked owner Rebecca Prunty to try and order some Dark Ruby. She managed to obtain three nine-gallon barrels, and each sold out within 24 hours when word got round. Needless to say, there was another nine-gallon barrel available for the awards ceremony and this too only lasted 24 hours!

Mild Magic Organiser Darren Berry said, "We were not sure whether the inclusion of Macclesfield on the trail for the first time would be a success. However, we needn't have worried as all four pubs involved stepped up to the mark and introduced ale-trailers to the town with a wide range of milds to enjoy.

"The Castle is a fabulous pub, full of history, and we were pleased that it reopened three years ago, after being closed for some time. In 2023 it was CAMRA Cheshire Pub of the Year and won the national CAMRA/ Historic England Conservation Award. Now it is the Mild Magic Champion Pub as well.

The Castle is a Grade II listed public house at 25 Church Street, Macclesfield. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"It is also fitting that the pub was selling the iconic Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby mild, as they restarted brewing in 1987 after years of closure, and, like the Castle, have won many awards since. One of their beers, an eight

per-cent Barley Wine called Snowflake, is the current CAMRA Champion Winter Beer of Britain. It just shows that determination and enthusiasm can overcome difficulties and result in success all round. Congratulations to both of them."

The Mild Magic Ale trail was organised by the Stockport and South Manchester Branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, in conjunction with surrounding Branches. Macclesfield is covered by the Macclesfield and East Cheshire Branch.

The Macclesfield pubs and bars involved on the trail were the Castle, the RedWillow Bar, the Society Rooms and Jack in the Box at the Picturedrome.

Although there was no award for it, RedWillow Brewery produced more different milds which were reported on the Ale Trail (four), than any other brewery.

The event took place over five weeks in April and May 2024, but it was only recently that the awards were presented due to other commitments from all the parties involved.

Over 70 ale-trailers visited the Macclesfield pubs, including a beer aficionado from Washington State on the West Coast of the USA.

The ale trail was made up of several challenges, involving visiting 12, 24, 48 or all the pubs, and offered prizes of bespoke clothing ranging from T-shirts to sweatshirts featuring the 2024 Mild Magic logo.

To find more about your local CAMRA branches, please click HERE and HERE.