Albion Ale House Explained

Albion Ale House
Map Width:200
Coordinates:53.28°N -3.83°W
Location:Uppergate Street
Conwy, Wales
Built:1921
Restored:2012
Architecture:Art Nouveau
Designation1:Grade II
Designation1 Date:30 December 2005
Designation1 Number:1207638

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]

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.

History

The Albion was built in 1921 on the site of a previous pub. 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.[7] Ellis arranged for the four local breweries to co-operate in running the pub on its reopening.

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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Albion Public House, Conwy. 30 December 2005. 29 December 2014. britishlistedbuildings.co.uk.
  2. Web site: Conwy, Albion Ale House – An historic pub interior of national importance. 2014. 29 December 2014. heritagepubs.org.uk.
  3. Web site: Rival breweries join to reopen The Albion pub in Conwy. 1 February 2012. 28 January 2016. BBC.co.uk.
  4. Web site: Albion Ale House in Conwy is CAMRA Wales Pub of the Year. 28 November 2013 . 28 January 2016. Daily Post.
  5. Web site: The best bars in the world. 30 November 2012. 28 January 2016. The Guardian. Turner. Robin.
  6. Web site: Men behind the cask – how North Wales microbrewers have turned round the fortunes of an ailing Conwy alehouse. 12 March 2012. 28 January 2016. Wales Online.
  7. Web site: Albion Pub in Conwy to be taken over by four local breweries. 18 August 2011. 28 January 2016. Daily Post. Jones. Mari.
  8. Web site: CAMRA UK Pub Design Award winners. 2014. 28 January 2016. camra.org.uk.
  9. Web site: Conwy pub will grace the cover of a UK heritage pub guide. 9 May 2013. 28 January 2016. North Wales Pioneer. Williams. Mike. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223844/http://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/122560/conwy-pub-will-grace-the-cover-of-a-uk-heritage-pub-guide.aspx. 3 March 2016. dead.