Hail to the Ale, Wolverhampton

Hail to the Ale micropub, Claregate, Wolverhampton (January 2014)

Hail to the Ale is a micropub at Claregate, Wolverhampton, WV6 9JN.

The pub is owned by Gary and Angela Morton of Morton Brewery, based in nearby Essington, Staffordshire.

The pub was the first micropub to open in the West Midlands, opening on 5 September 2013 in a building that was previously occupied by the former Claregate Post Office and an antiques shop.

Hail to the Ale won the Campaign for Real Ale's Wolverhampton City Pub of the Year for five years in a row in 2015,[1][2] 2016,[3] 2017, 2018 and 2019[4], winning again in 2022 and 2024. It was also awarded Campaign for Real Ale's West Midlands Regional Pub of the Year [2015], West Midlands County Pub of the Year awards [2015-2017] and Wolverhampton CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year [2018 & 2024].[5][6] The micropub was also named in the Daily Telegraph's Thirsty Thirty pubs list,[7] picked by the writers of the Pint to Pint column in the newspaper's Weekend supplement.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hail to the Ale operated a non-profit cash and carry of essential goods for the benefit of the local community.[8]

References

  1. ^ Madeley, Peter (6 April 2015). "From mail to ale, micropub's a winner". Express & Star.
  2. ^ "One-room micro-boozer named Wolverhampton's pub of the year". Express & Star. Express & Star. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Wolverhampton post office-turned-micropub named City Pub of the Year by Camra". Native Monster. 26 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  4. ^ Reynolds, Jordan (28 May 2019). "Wolverhampton pub wins award for fifth year in row". Express & Star. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  5. ^ Lockley, Mike (10 September 2015). "Why has this quirky Wolverhampton micro pub been named as one of the best boozers in Britain?". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  6. ^ "CAMRA announces the Top 16 pubs in Britain". CAMRA. Campaign for Real Ale. 10 September 2015. Archived from the original on 12 May 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  7. ^ "The Thirsty 30: raise a toast to Britain's best pubs". The Daily Telegraph. 4 September 2016. Archived from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  8. ^ Snead, Florence (24 June 2020). "Pubs reopening: Customers chip in to help their locals stay afloat, with merchandise, online shows and crowdfunding". The i. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2020.

52°36′29″N 2°09′39″W / 52.60804°N 2.16087°W / 52.60804; -2.16087