SCOTLAND'S first micropub is the “real deal” for the second year in a row after ale aficionados hailed the Kelso watering hole as one of the best.
Rutherfords was recently declared Borders Pub of the Year by members of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland branch of CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale.
During the previous year, members had been visiting pubs and scoring their beer – making an assessment of how well it had been kept and served and submitting their scores online.
In February, members met to consider a short-list of the highest scoring pubs.
This had been compiled using an algorithm that takes account of the number of people scoring, the number of visits the scores related to, as well as the scores themselves.
The pubs on the short-list were those which consistently offered well kept beer.
By secret ballot, members then voted for their Pub of the Year, in the three areas the branch covers – Edinburgh, the Lothians outside Edinburgh, and the Borders.
Rutherfords was the winner from amongst the Borders pubs, as it was in the previous year.
The watering hole, converted from a former shop, was the first micropub in Scotland.
The outside drinking area extends on to the pavement and into the car park in season.
Their well kept real ales are generally from smaller breweries, with third-pint tasting paddles available.
