VIDEO: It’s ale coming together for John and Janice!

John and Janice Pritchett – who have given the March Hare in Dunton a whole new lease of life – have been given a top honour by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The East Beds branch of the organisation has awarded the March Hare its Branch Pub of the Year accolade for 2013 – just six months after the venue appeared in its latest Good Beer Guide publication.

East Beds CAMRA chairman John Goodlet visited the pub to present the couple with a certificate.

Real ale home brewer and lover John, 60, and Janice, 56 have worked long and hard to renovate the pub since they bought it three years ago.

After a complete refit of the inside they now specialise in real and casque ales, and have offered more than 500 on draught. They also hope to open a micro brewery at the pub and a village shop there too.

John said: “When we first took over the pub was in quite a dilapidated condition, but it is completely different now and we take pride in the range and quality of the real ales that we serve here. I have been a home brewer for more than 45 years and to be able to keep and serve casque ales for a living is a dream come true.”

Janice paid tribute to John’s dedication to his work and passion for keeping ale.

She said: “John is extremely dedicated when it comes to sourcing, keeping and serving the ales, and we always have local beers available.”