TWO MONTROSE publicans are going head to head in a battle to find Scotland's Licensee of the Year 2009.
Nomie Braes, of the Black Abbot, and Willem Dorward, of the Market Arms, are both in the final four of the Carling sponsored award.
The two publicans will find out who has won next week, at the DRAM Scottish Licensed Trade Awards.
They will b
e competing against John Carrigan, from John Carrigan's Eating House in Hamilton and Emma Birnie, of the Rocksley Inn, in Peterhead.
The Market Arms has also reached the final four of the Sunday Mail Pub of the Year 2009. The Montrose pub reached the last stage after the newspapers' readers were asked to vote by text for their favourite. The Black Abbot also reached the final 16 of the competition.
The Market Arms was described as being welcoming, with a huge range of malts and real ales, karaoke and live bands. They will fight it out with the Four Marys in Linlithgow, which is one of Scotland's oldest pubs at around 500 years old, and the Mayfield Bar in Hawick, which hails EastEnders actor Adam Woodyatt as one of its celebrity visitors.
Also up for the award is the Rocksley Inn in Peterhead, whose publican is also up against Willem for the Carling Licensee of the Year.
Susan Young, organiser of the Scottish Licensed Trade Awards and Dram magazine editor said judges had been impressed by the professionalism, drive and enthusiasm of the candidates up for licensee of the year.
Last year, the Market Arms was named Maclachlan's Beer Pub of the Year, which is also under the DRAM Scottish Licensed Trade Awards.
The award recognised the pub for taking real pride in their beer, as judges were looking for somewhere that practised excellent cellar management, had a good range of beer for its customers and promoted and delivered a great beer offering.
The Black Abbot was named Scottish Community Pub of the Year 2008 after being nominated anonymously by a customer.
Judges were struck by the involvement the pub has with the community, saying they were impressed by the collection of sports teams and found the programme of events and activities remarkable.
The winners of the 2009 awards will be announced at a special Homecoming Scotland themed ceremony in the Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, on Monday, June 29.
