Hull's Hop and Vine wins Hull bar wins Yorkshire Cider and Perry Pub of the Year competition

IT HAS served up almost 240 varieties of different ciders to thirsty punters in the past six years.

Now, the Hop and Vine in Albion Street has been voted the winner of the Yorkshire Cider and Perry Pub of the Year competition.

More than 300 watering holes selling real cider across the region were eligible in a record year for the Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) contest.

Having won a string of awards in the past, including a national cider pub accolade, licensee Stewart Campbell said it helps to get new customers through the door.

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He said: "We have championed real cider from day one and some people would find it hard to believe there are so many types available."

The pub has served 237 different pints of cider and perry from 80 farms since Stewart, 50, began running the venue.

As well as celebrating the Yorkshire award, the pub is hosting its fifth annual cider and perry festival this week.

The event, which will run from Thursday until Saturday, will offer customers 15 real ciders for just £3 a pint, from 11am each day.

Stewart said: "We are proud to celebrate a great British drink by only selling cider and perry made wholly from apples and pears and not stocking fizzy concentrate 'cider'.

"The real cider and perry for the festival has been sourced from the West Country and as far away as Brittany in France."

Stewart runs the bar with family, including partner Janet Rowan, and said the couple know most of the customers.

"We don't have a TV in the bar, it's a traditional English pub, people come here for fun and conversation," he said.

"Everyone knows everybody else and we used to have a lot of the old boys in before the Hull City matches.

"The businesses is ticking over nicely but we are affected by the recession.

"We are hoping to see some more of the university students come in and they have their own real ale society."

The Hop and Vine is described in the new 2013 Good Beer Guide as an "atmospheric basement bar with rare bentwood seating".

The free house serves three changing guest ales from independents, plus rare farmhouse ciders and a perry.

A menu of freshly made snacks and hot drinks is also available until 9pm.

The pub is currently serving the likes of Moorlands Farm cider, Cornish Orchards and Sanford Orchards.

Stewart said: "I'd worked in pubs before taking over the Hop and Vine and it's been very successful.

"I think we have what it takes to win more awards but it is getting harder because more places are selling real cider these days."