Crafty Beggars is the autumn pub of the season 2026
February 2020 wasn’t an ideal time to open your first micropub. Former school friends Phil Binks and Phil Robertson had decided to do just that and opened the Crafty Beggars Ale House in Fulwood just one month before the first Covid lockdown
As steep learning curves go, it was as steep as it gets but having put so much time and effort in, they were not going to give in lightly. They set about home deliveries of flagons of beer and pizza, then through the various stages of opening and lockdown served their customers from deckchairs set up outside the pub.
Since those challenging early days their business has gone from strength to strength with a well established clientele of locals as well as visitors from around the area calling in to sample some excellent real ale. It seems very appropriate then that the Central Lancashire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has recently chosen Crafty Beggars as their Pub of the Season for Autumn.
For many real ale drinkers in the area this will be no surprise. The bar maintains four handpumps serving a carefully selected range of different beer styles mainly from smaller independent regional breweries. This range and the quality are the reasons why the pub has been in the Good Beer Guide for the last four years.
A delighted Phil Robertson said: “We were buzzing when we received the news from CAMRA about this award. It’s the result of so much hard work. We would like to give special recognition to Chenille Mason who has been our outstanding manager over the last five years and say thank you to our great staff and all the wonderful customers who have supported us and helped make Crafty Beggars what it is today.”
Adrian Smith, Chair of the Central Lancashire branch of CAMRA commented: “At a time when many pubs struggle to succeed against a background of rising taxes and employment costs it is heartening to see a small pub thriving. Their ability to select and keep excellent real ale has been a significant part of their success. Fulwood is fortunate to have such a great venue and Crafty Beggars is a well worthy winner of the award as Pub of the Season for Autumn 2026.”
The presentation of the award will take place at Crafty Beggars at 7.30pm on Thursday, October 8. All are welcome