Top CAMRA award for Halesowen sports and social club

Coombs Wood Sports and Social Club has been named by CAMRA's Stourbridge & Halesowen branch as its 2024 Club-of-the-Year.

On Wednesday (May 8) branch chairman Tim Cadwell visited the club on Grange Hill to present the award to bar manager Dawn Bubb.

Branch chairman, Tim Cadwell, presenting the award to Dawn Bubb (Image: Handout)

Tim said: “Well done to Dawn and her team at the Coombs Wood Sports & Social Club for their Club-of-the-Year award.

"There are many good sports and social clubs in the Stourbridge and Halesowen area, but this year, the Coombs Wood Sports & Social Club has out-performed them all, with a wide range of consistently good quality real ales being served.

"The award isn’t the result of a vote, it’s a judging process with criteria marked by volunteers from both towns.”

Bar manager, Dawn Bubb, has been in the licensed trade since she was 16-years old.

Previously, she looked after the Clent Club, before moving to the Holly Bush pub in Stourport and later to the Swan in Long Lane, Halesowen.

She’s been in charge of the Coombs Wood Sports & Social Club bar since 2021, where seven ever-changing cask ales are usually available.

The club holds regular live music nights and there’s also a popular winter beer festival in January.

Dawn has five regular staff at the bar, along with cellarman, Gary.

The club has around 800 members, with cricket, bowls, football, darts and crib teams, and welcomes non-members.

The club began life in 1921 as the Coombswood Cricket Club, previously the Stewarts & Lloyds Cricket Club, in Coombs Road.

The original site was later redeveloped with new housing and a new clubhouse and grounds were provided off Stewarts Road, Halesowen.

Next month, on June 12, the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) branch will be presenting a Pub-of-the-Year award (3rd place) to the Queen’s Head, Enville Street, Stourbridge.