Lamplighter given golden award for its real ale

Thursday 15 July 2021

St. Helier's Lamplighter has been recognised with a Golden Award for its contribution to real ales and ciders on the island.

The pub is one of just 32 pubs across the British Isles to be given the honour by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), following nominations made by both CAMRA members and locals alike.

The Lamplighter has been consistently recognised in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide, and has also won the award on several occasions prior.

Tenant Publican, and the man who has run the pub for the last 18 years, Sean Murphy, told Express it was "absolutely tremendous" to see the pub recognised in this way.

"To be one of only 32 pubs in the whole UK to be awarded, it’s fantastic," he exclaimed, saying that he felt it was a blend of the pub's atmosphere, as well as its drinks, that made it stand out for the award.

Pictured: Sean Murphy, who has run the Lamplighter Inn for 18 years, said the award was "absolutely tremendous" news for the pub.

"The main one when it comes to CAMRA is a good pint, tremendous real ale - but also with the real ale, you need the staffing, you need the atmosphere, so it’s a whole package, and I think we’ve got that," he said, adding it was "one of those pubs that you feel safe and you feel good in."

As a testament to this, he mentioned the pub's returning regulars, including about "a dozen or so" dating back all the way to when he started - "sometimes they actually drop me a line saying, 'Can you get some local beer on? can you get this one in for me?'"

He wanted to credit his staff across all 18 years of his time at the pub for contributing to the recognition, saying they have all "helped build up the reputation and turned it into the pub it is - a bit of an icon on the island really, and an icon for real ale travellers coming to the island."

Returning once more to the others who make the pub what it is, he said: "I’d like to thank my loyal customers - without my customers, I wouldn’t be here all these years later."

Pictured: CAMRA singled out the Lamplighter for being "community stalwarts."

CAMRA's Awards Director Gary Timmins said: "I am delighted to be honouring the Lamplighter today with a CAMRA Golden Award. 2021 is our anniversary year, and we want to take this opportunity to celebrate the successes of great British locals as well as CAMRA's achievements – we wouldn't have got far without their support!

"This anniversary comes on the heels of an incredibly difficult time for the industry after a year of lockdowns and restrictions.

"I hope the team behind the Lamplighter and their locals will take this award as appreciation for all the hard work involved in running the pub, over the decades and especially now. Nominations were submitted by our members and consumers, which says a lot about the support and impact they have had.

"Winners have been chosen for their successes in standing the test of time; for being convivial, characterful and community-focused, and of course for consistently pouring great pints. I applaud the Lamplighter for their dedication, for being community stalwarts and campaigning heroes."