bod Lichfield crowned best new build pub in the UK!

We’re excited to share the news that the newest bod café bar has been recognised as this year’s best ‘New Build’ venue in the national Pub Design Awards, organised by the Campaign for Real Ale and Historic England.

The competition celebrates some of the most visually stunning, historically significant and lovingly restored pubs across the UK.

Previously, bod café bars in Matlock and Alsager have been recognised in the “Conversion to Pub Use” category. This year, it was the turn of the latest bod in Lichfield, which wowed judges in the category for new, purpose-built venues.

Titanic Brewery Director Dave Bott said: “We’re delighted that for a record-breaking third year in a row, a bod café bar has been recognised in the Pub Design Awards. Typically our bods can be found in converted spaces like former banks or police stations, but our Lichfield location is unique in that it is a purpose-built new construction.

This presented their architect Mark Smith with a whole host of challenges to create the same bod environment that our customers are used to, and we are incredibly proud of the finished result. This is a space that has been designed for the whole community to make use of – from comfy sofas for friends to catch up; to booth seats for family brunches; to quiet corners with plug sockets for someone to get on with some work; bod Lichfield is a space where people really can come to meet, eat, drink and relax.”

According to CAMRA, the New Build category rewards owners who have used imagination and flair to create something new and impressive. Judges admired bod’s industrial chic design, which makes use of recycled wood, distressed paintwork, quirky light fittings and exposed ceiling pipes, and felt the new pub was a great addition to Lichfield’s beer scene.

“We’re particularly pleased that judges recognised our efforts to ensure that sustainability sits at the heart of the design without compromising the overall aesthetic.” said Dave. “Visitors to bod will notice the bar front made from recycled wood panels, chairs reclaimed from former church halls, and even light fittings made from surplus beer casks and bottles!

The winners across the categories of this year’s Pub Design Awards are all spectacular spaces, and we’re honoured that our bod café bar in Lichfield is included in this illustrious line-up. We’re also grateful to CAMRA and Historic England for running these awards and highlighting just how important it is to preserve these spaces for future generations to enjoy.”