SHEFFIELD pub and brewery owner Dave Wickett was honoured last night for his "outstanding contribution" to the promotion of real ale in the city.
Local members of the Campaign for Real Ale gave him a special award at their annual presentation evening at Thornbridge Hall near Ashford-in-the-Water in the Peak District.
Dave, a former Sheffield Polytechnic lecturer, opened the Fat Cat pub in K
elham Island 28 years ago to offer drinkers an alternative to premises owned by the big brewers.
Camra said it was "amongst the first real ale showcase pubs and one of the few true freehouses at the time".
It sold traditional scrumpy and unusual bottled beers, excluded music and electronic machines to encourage conversation, set aside the first no smoking room in the area and offered good home cooking with a vegetarian choice. In its first year, The Fat Cat was voted Sheffield's first Pub Of The Year.
Moreover, it went on to become a catalyst for a real ale trail which was celebrated last week in the success of the Kelham Island Tavern as Camra's national Pub of the Year.
Kelham Island Brewery was opened next to the Fat Cat, winning Champion Beer of Britain with its Pale Rider in 2004, and is currently busier than ever with plans for an extension.
Meanwhile, Dave has made his mark on Ecclesall Road by opening Champs sports bar and restaurant with former Sheffield Wednesday player David Ford, again offering real ale on handpumps. The venue is now owned by Jim Harrison, of Thornbridge Brewery.
Dave is a member of the Parliamentary Beer Group and his love of the English pub and beer has extended across the Atlantic to Rochester in New York State where he has opened the Old Toad pub.
Andrew Cullen, editor of Camra's Beer Matters magazine, said: "Dave is probably the businessman who has made the biggest impact promoting real ale in Sheffield, with 28 years of the Fat Cat pub, along with Kelham Island Brewery and more recently Champs Bar and Grill. He continues to innovate and bring new audiences to good beer."
lSheffield Camra chose Dunham Massey Milk Stout as its overall champion beer followed by Jaipur IPA of Thornbridge Brewery and Hophead of Dark Star.
Thornbridge's Jaipur IPA was judged Beer of the Festival at the Dover Beer Festival, the 76th award for the brewery since its first success at the Sheffield Beer Festival in 2005.
Managing director Jim Harrison described the success as "unbelievable.
"I am full of admiration for the brewing team at Thornbridge who bring great dedication, skill and knowledge to their work."
A new brewery is due to open later this year so that production can be stepped up.
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