A Stoke-on-Trent pub has been named the winner of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Heritage Award 2025.

Steve Burke and Lisa Combes, the new owners of the Vine in Pittshill, have won the Heritage Award which is open to all pubs on CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.

CAMRA, a not-for-profit UK consumer group, runs the awards to promote and preserve the interiors of historic pubs, the award highlights people that have saved or have carefully revived a heritage pub.

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."

Landlord Steve Burke said 'reopening and restoring our listed pub has been a labour of love' (image via CAMRA)

CAMRA described The Vine as 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. 

The pub closed during the coronavirus pandemic, following the passage of the previous owner.

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.

The team carried significant repair work, renovating and restoring the roof, basement and beer yard while also taking care to protect its original character, for example, the layout of the pub has been preserved to keep the small rooms and snug as they have been for many years.

Andy Parkin, Potteries CAMRA branch Chairman said: "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 pub will be presented with the award at an event organised by the local CAMRA branch. 

The interior of the pub with (left to right) Steve Burke, Landlord; Lisa Combes, Landlady; and David Oakley, Landlord (image via CAMRA)

The runner up for the Heritage Award was the Crown Inn in Stockport.

Paul Ainsworth, Pub Saving Award Coordinator 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."