Where are GBPA winners now: Battlesteads

The pub, hotel and restaurant is probably the only one in the UK that has its own named public astronomical observatory offering talks, activities, stargazing and astro courses to suit anyone from absolute beginners to professionals.

The Northumberland venue first took the title of Green Pub of the Year in 2010 before becoming overall winner and being awarded the Great British Pub of the Year title.

Tourist attraction

The UK has some of the largest areas of dark sky in Europe and the pub is on the edge of the Northumberland Dark Sky Park, where up to 1,000 stars can be seen at a time compared with just 100 in most other places. Details about the park's observatory and associated special star-gazing events are prominent on the Battlesteads website.

The nearby pub is a star attraction for visitors and tourists, having been awarded ‘Dark Sky Stay and Gaze’ status by Northumberland Tourism.

This is just one of a number of prestigious awards won by the 18th-century Inn located in the heart of rural Northumberland. Last year it even won the North East Rural Awards tourism and hospitality title, organised by local newspapers.

Sustainability

Battlesteads was taken over Richard and Dee Slade in 2005, who have transformed the former farmstead into a destination renowned for its food, welcoming hospitality and outstanding ‘green’ credentials. The hotel’s carefully considered approach to sustainability in terms of energy efficiency, use of renewable technology, development of local suppliers, and electric car charging point has also won it Green Tourisim Awards.

With so much going on during the day and into the starlit night, it is no wonder Battlesteads continues to go from strength to strength. 

The deadline for entry for this year's John Smith's Great British Pub Awards is 18 May, and you can enter online here: www.greatbritishpubawards.co.uk.​​​​