Licensees from seven pubs were named as winners, with Jayne and Christina Blackshaw from the Cotton Tree in Bollington, Cheshire, taking the overall prize.
The Blackshaws were commended by Punch for their proactive approach to putting the pub at the heart of the Bollington community. Their site regularly hosts community events, such as a marrow-growing contest and, in the run-up to Christmas, the pub sells trees to local residents.
Mercury replaced Punch’s turnaround division in April 2016 and the judges were looking for licensees that had worked to achieve and maintain exceptional standards and make their pubs a community hub.
Mercury North operations director Tony Pilley said that the awards were a chance to reward hard-working licensees. “We have some fantastic pubs with great standards; something both Punch and our publicans should be incredibly proud of,” he said.
Punch award winners
- Steve and Sharon Cowburn from the Times Inn, Seaham, County Durham
- Joanna Phelps from the Alexandra Vaults, Saltburn-by-the-sea, North Yorkshire
- Tony Good from the Brewery Tap, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Jayne and Christina Blackshaw from the Cotton Tree, Bollington, Cheshire
- Tim and Michelle Hines from the Bulls Head, Warrington, Cheshire
- Matt Moulson and Natalie Varley from the Cock Inn, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
- Joe Hogg from the Highlander, Blaydon-on-Tyne, County Durham