Pub of the Season

Pub of the season SPRING 2022 Vinyl Tap PRESTON

We are delighted to award Spring 2022’s CAMRA Central Lancs Pub of the Season award to Preston’s favourite record-rifling pub, the VINYL TAP. Having previously been awarded our ‘Most Improved’ award the year it opened, the Vinyl Tap has established itself as a Preston staple for real ale and real music.

The Vinyl Tap’s unique feature, as you may have guessed from the name, is its celebration of vinyl music, with ever-growing racks of records from just about every genre but particularly rock, metal, country and alternative. Visitors can pick out any record and leave it by the bar to be played, ensuring the mix of music played stays as unique as the drinkers enjoying it. An album of the day is a regular feature with a record being picked, promoted on social media and played at 5pm that day (Meatloaf’s ‘Bat Out of Hell’ was recently picked following the singer’s passing).

Up to five ales are on offer with the regular ‘Vinyl Pale’ being supplied by Kirkby Lonsdale brewery, as well as Motorhead’s ‘Roadcrew’ being a popular choice for lager drinking customers. Regular open mic and band nights (as well as the vinyl selection) mean that the Vinyl attracts many music fans and gives the pub a really friendly atmosphere where you can always find someone to chat to about your favourite band or album.

The Vinyl Tap’s success hasn’t been without difficulties, with the recently completed extensive Adelphi-quarter revamp at times surrounding the pub with fences, machinery and large holes. Thankfully with landlord Sean at the helm, the Vinyl was able to get through these tough times and now sits ideally placed between the university and the thriving Adelphi/Friargate area of the city.

The Vinyl Tap is a real triumph and well deserving of our Pub of the Season award; there’s always a great selection of ale at very competitive prices, I know I’ll receive a warm and friendly welcome from the regulars, staff and landlord Sean and the music (whether live or vinyl) is always excellent; I’ve discovered several bands whilst foot-tapping with a pint. The Vinyl’s location is convenient for the city centre (5-10 minutes walk from the train or bus station) but also a great city centre edge stop if you’re visiting our outlying pubs (such as the Moorbrook or Princess Alice) or making your way to Deepdale to watch some football. The building itself has been a pub for many years under a couple of names (the Hearts of Oak and the Variety) and sat vacant for some time before becoming the Vinyl Tap. Although the Vinyl Tap has only existed for a few years, the building’s history gives it a familiar pub atmosphere, having served the drinkers of Preston since at least the 1850s and counting two former Preston North End players amongst its previous landlords, including 1900s England player Richard ‘Dicky’ Bond.

In the last year or so Sean has utilised the Vinyl’s kitchen to start serving authentic German bratwurst with a simple menu where you select your preferred wurst (a delicious veggie wurst is available) and choose from an extensive list of toppings. The simple but delicious bratwurst menu has added to the venue’s appeal without making it feel like any less of a drinker’s pub.

I highly recommend you get to searching the pub’s vinyl racks for your favourite album next time you’re enjoying a pint. Congratulations to Sean and the Vinyl Tap staff on all they’ve achieved with the pub over the last few years, there’s nowhere I’d rather discover new music and old favourites with a quality pint.

EDD FLETCHER