A LUCKY landlord has won a ‘dream’ competition to have his pub recreated in Rio in time for the World Cup.
Stunned Ernie Welch, who runs the Old Star Inn in Winsford, has this week been announced as the winner of the McCoy’s crisps ‘Put a Pub on a Plane to Rio’ competition.
He will bring nine regulars over to Brazil this summer – including the regular who nominated him - to help prop up the recreated bar as the hotly-anticipated competition kicks off.
“It’s absolutely an amazing prize – I still can’t believe we have won a trip to Rio,” the publican, whose family hails from counties Roscommon and Mayo, told The Irish Post.
“We’re all huge football fans here so this is a dream prize,” he added.
Locals voted for the popular watering hole in Darnhall as the pub most worthy of the prize, in the competition judged by the best-known landlord of them all Al Murray.
“It was a really tough competition and all the top five who made the shortlist were really great examples of what a proper British pub should be,” Murray said.
“But I’m made up for The Old Star Inn and I’m sure we picked the right pub,” he added.
The bar managed to beat off stiff competition from more than 2,000 nominated pubs, by engaging their friends, family and supporters across the globe via a social media campaign.
Support came from Ireland, America and Australia, as well as their local community in Cheshire, to help them secure the top prize.
In the next few months McCoy’s will recreate The Old Star Inn in Rio, just a stone’s throw away from Copacabana beach, complete with the pub’s distinctive sign, traditional fireplace, colourful pool table and its all-important wooden bar.
As well as landlord Ernie, Christina Duffy, the regular who nominated the pub, and eight locals will be flown out to Brazil in June for the Grand Opening.
They will also enjoy a front row seat for the World Cup action from the comfort of their favourite watering hole.
Christina said: “I nominated Ernie on behalf of the local community because we wanted to give something back to a man who really makes a massive difference to our lives.”
She added: “It’s not really sunk in yet that he has won but I’m so delighted and proud and I can’t wait to get out to Rio to see our pub in Brazil!”
For all the other locals in Winsford there will be a chance to get involved in a special pub quiz at The Old Star, hosted by comedian Al Murray - the Rio McCoy’s official campaign ambassador – on May 14.
“I am so grateful to all our brilliant locals for taking time to vote and now we are looking forward to celebrating and thanking them in person at the pub quiz, which we’ll announce the date of soon,” Ernie said.
He added: “All of us who are going to Brazil are so excited and we will be showing the locals in Rio some good old fashioned The Old Star Inn hospitality.”
