Pub Of The Year Presentation
Our Pub Of the Year Award for 2025 was presented to Luis Bar at Fernendes in Wakefield City Centre at the end of April. It was congratulations and compliments all round to Liz and Howard Hughes, the Licensees at Luis Bar at the presentation full of locals, visitors and CAMRA members. It is the first time since 2007 that the pub has won the Pub Of the Year. The pub and brewery tap has been known as Luis Bar at Fernandes since 2021 following a major refurbishment with the bar moving to the lower of two floors. Mark Goodair (CAMRA Branch Chairperson) said: “We are here to present our 2025 Pub of the Year Award, it is the first time in 19 years that Fernandes has won the award and it’s quite an achievement. It is the only brew pub in the city centre which serves its own beers as well as from local, including the Five Towns and Tigertops, breweries. It is my pleasure to present this award to you Liz’. A jubilant Liz Hughes, said “Thank you to our amazing team (Gayle, Viki, Steve, Michael and Dawid). These guys make the pub. Thanks to you all for drinking the beer….thank you to everyone.’ Fernandes was founded in 1999 by David and Maureen James who sold it to Ossett Brewery in 2007. Fernandes is steeped in Brewing History, the building was an original 19th Century malthouse for Fernandes Old Bridge Brewery on Chantry Bridge and later the Beverley Eagle Brewery. Luis Fernandes, a Portuguese Immigrant, constructed the building in 1880s. Today, Luis Bar serves up to nine Cask Ales with all of the Fernandes beer brewed in the on site brewery situated in the cellar. The Pub Of the Year Award is the ‘end product’ of a detailed and thorough selection process where all Wakefield CAMRA members nominate pubs to draw up a short list of four pubs. Finally all members are invited to vote again to determine the Pub Of The Year from the short list. All the short listed pubs inevitably serve excellent Real Ale and have a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere to all their customers.
Published: 08 May 2026