Left to right: Steve Burke, landlord; Lisa Combes, landlady; David Oakley, landlord
Restoration of Victorian time warp pub, the Vine in Pittshill, wins CAMRA’s Heritage Award
CAMRA has named Steve Burke and Lisa Combes, new owners of the Vine in Pittshill, Stoke-on-Trent as the winners of its Heritage Award 2025.
From grand Edwardian gin palaces to preserved inter-war gems, the Heritage Award is open to all pubs on CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. To promote and preserve the interiors of historic pubs, the award highlights people that have saved or have carefully revived a heritage pub.
The Vine is a perfect example of a back-street Victorian local, hidden away in the terraced streets of Tunstall, with an interior of outstanding national historic importance. The Grade II listed pub showcases classic features such as a partly glazed partition wall, off-sales hatch with an intact rising sash window and a 1950s tiled fireplace.
However, the iconic pub’s doors closed during the coronavirus pandemic, following the passing of the previous owner, leaving the community fearing this historic local might be lost for good.
In 2025, self-confessed cask beer fanatic Steve Burke of Interplan Investments, with his business partners and his partner Lisa Combes, bought the Vine at auction with a clear aim of bringing the pub back to its former glory while respecting its heritage.
Falling in love instantly with the Vine, the team carried out significant repair work, renovating and restoring the roof, basement and beer yard. Taking care to protect its original character, the layout of the pub has been preserved to keep the small rooms and snug as they have been for many years.
Landlord Steve Burke said:
“We are truly honoured to receive this recognition. Reopening and restoring our listed pub has been a labour of love, made possible by the incredible support of our local community. This award belongs as much to them as it does to us, and we are proud to see the pub recognised as a living part of our community once again.”
Andy Parkin, Potteries CAMRA branch Chairman added:
“We are extremely pleased for the team at the Vine, who have done what they set out to do: ‘Be a pub of the community, that encourages them to want to keep coming in’. In October they won a deserved merit award from the Potteries CAMRA branch in our Pub of the Year 2025 members’ vote. I am sure the Vine will continue to do extremely well.”
The runner up for the Heritage Award was the Crown Inn in Stockport.
Pub Saving Award Coordinator Paul Ainsworth said:
“These community champions and heritage heroes deserve to be applauded. I continue to be amazed by the dedication and grit of these campaigners, who spend years or even decades campaigning to save pubs.”
“However, if we want more communities to be able to do this, they need support from the government. The Community Ownership Fund provided cash for groups to take ownership and the running of community facilities that would otherwise be sold, converted or demolished. This was wound up by the government and has not been directly replaced. The forthcoming Right to Buy scheme must come alongside a dedicated programme of advice, guidance and funding to make sure community pubs go from strength to strength.”
The pub will be presented with the award at an event organised by the local CAMRA branch.
Ends
Notes to editors:
Photos of the winners and runner ups: camra-stock.camra.org.uk/256263685/collection/113/heritage-award-2025
CAMRA has detailed guides and resources for anybody looking to save their local: camra.org.uk/save-your-local-pub
More information about the Heritage Award: camra.org.uk/awards/heritage
Information about historic pub interiors and CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group: camra.org.uk/heritage-pubs
More information about the Vine: camra.org.uk/pubs/vine-stoke-on-trent-123167
About CAMRA:
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is a not-for-profit UK consumer group.
We have been campaigning for pubs, pints and people since 1971.
Media Contact:
CAMRA Press Office:
01727 337863
