AFTER an intense competition, a Southampton pub is celebrating taking home a prestigious award. 

Campaign for real Ale (CAMRA) has announced Olaf's Tun Craft Ale Bar as its pub of the year. 

The Woolston pub beat finalists Steam Town Brew Co, The Handle Bar and The Witch’s Brew, which have all received runners up certificates.

The award ceremony took place at the pub yesterday (Tuesday, April 19) at 8.30pm.

Owners Mariella Wertheimer Price and her husband Rob shared the happy news with their customers and were handed trophies and certificates.

Mariella said: "We were really excited, it’s a really big achievement for the pub especially as we only opened at the end of 2020, but we could not have done this without customer support.

"What sets us apart is our selection with six tap lines and seven beers available on keg but what sets us most apart is the support from our community.

"Our bar mostly stocks beer and ale from local breweries and we aim to other something that’s different you wouldn’t expect."

Lockdown restrictions on bars were tough at the height of the pandemic with over 10,000 licensed premises closing in 2020. This was no different for Olaf’s.

"Lockdown was tough, we opened for one week before restrictions were put back in place and so for the first four months, we were open, we delivered beer all over Southampton," added Mariella who used to run a pub in Romsey for five and a half years.

Asked what the future holds, she said: "What’s next is getting through and growing through 2022, 2021 was about survival and 2022 is about growth.

"We are looking to solidify our offering and look into potentially opening a second location."

Olaf's Tun will now move on to the Wessex Regional finals for a chance to be surveyed for pub of the year 2022 Wessex. If successful, it will compete for CAMRA National Pub of the Year.

Previous winners include The Steel Tank Alehouse in Eastleigh, The Guide Dog in Earls Road, The Bookshop Alehouse in Portswood Road, The Royal Oak in Fritham and The Flower Pots Inn in Alresford. 

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News