The team at Rumba Macclesfield are celebrating with a rum-based cocktail or two after winning a national pub award.
The specialist rum bar, led by publican Chris Carson, beat off stiff competition from around the UK to claim the title of Best Turnaround Pub at the 2017 Great British Pub Awards.
Commenting on the accolade, Chris said: “We’re passionate about rum and it’s great to see that passion being recognised on a national stage. The team at Rumba has created something special and we’re very proud to bring a Great British Pub Award back to Macclesfield.”
The achievement comes after four rounds of vigorous judging which included a judging visit, a cocktail masterclass in London hosted by Diageo and a Skype interview.
During the cocktail masterclass, Rumba’s mixologist Oliver Dodswell was asked to create a unique cocktail with local resonance.
Born and bred in Macclesfield, Oliver took inspiration from Macclesfield’s affection name, ‘Treacle Town’ to create the Rumba ‘Hometown Sweetheart’. His cocktail was inspired by a famous event in local folklore, where a horse and cart carrying treacle overturned in the town and people rushed to eat the sugary molasses substance, which shares its family roots with Rum.
Made with Pampero Especial rum, Amaretto, Grenadine, Gomme and banana, Rumba’s Hometown Sweetheart has flavours of vanilla, caramel and toffee and is reminiscent of a treacle tart, hence the link to Macclesfield.
Owned by national pub operator Punch, the ‘Tiki’ themed bar on Pickford Street which offers a range of over 200 rums from all over the world, had a major refurbishment with a Caribbean theme in 2016, which included the addition of a new custom designed cocktail bar, fish tank, surfboard tables and real ‘Blowfish’ lightshades.
Ed Bedington, editor of pub trade magazine The Morning Advertiser which hosts the awards, said: “These awards celebrate everything that is so great about the Great British Pub, which is an institution the entire country should be proud of.
“I’m delighted to be able to announce that Rumba has won the title of Turnaround Pub of the Year. This is a pub that clearly stood out against a very competitive field and its recognition is much deserved.”