MA names Cow as its Pub of the Year
Freehouse, the Cow in Parkstone, Dorset, has been named the Morning Advertiser Pub of the Year 2007 - and won £5,000 for owner David Sax in the process.
The Cow was one of eight regional winners that went head-to-head to compete for the supreme title at the Morning Advertiser's glittering Best Pub Awards' ceremony at London's Old Billingsgate last Thursday night.
The Cow also won the title of Best Freehouse of the Year and was a finalist in another category - Best Wine Pub. Sax pipped other finalists because he transformed an ailing oulet, then called the Parkstone Hotel and owned by Eldridge Pope, that had an annual turnover of only £75,000. The Cow
now takes in excess of £1m.
Judges also praised him for creating three income streams under one roof - a comfortable and stylish lounge bar, a separate
60-cover bistro, and transforming a rundown function room into a lavish setting for private dining and similar events.
MA editor Andrew Pring said: "The Cow demonstrates what can be achieved with vision and determination.
"Equally praiseworthy is the fact that David Sax was new to the trade when he bought the Cow in 2003."
He added: "Although there can only be one overall
winner, every finalist exhibited the highest possible standards and should justifiably be proud of their achievements.
"Every year, the number and standard of the entries increases, which just shows how important these awards are becoming to the industry."
Over 800 people attended the awards ceremony and were entertained by guest speaker - comedian Rob Brydon. Afterwards, guests were treated to a Frank Sinatra and Elvis impersonator.
The regional winners each received a cheque for £1,000. They were: London - the Magpie, Bishopsgate, EC2; South East - the Swan at the Vineyard, Lamberhurst, Kent; North West - Church House Inn, Bollington, Cheshire; Yorkshire & North East - Stansfield Arms, Apperley Bridge, West Yorkshire; East & West Midlands - Red Hart, Kington, Worcestershire; East Anglia - the Cutter Inn, Ely, Cambridgeshire; and Wales - Castle Inn, Caldicot, Monmouthshire.
A full list of all the category winners is included on pages 21-25.
l MA opinion - p18
