Travel guide names its best pubs in England and Wales
The 2018-19 awards included categories for the best pub with rooms, best pub for seasonal and organic produce, best community pub, favourite newcomer and most authentic pub.
The Stackpole Inn, a freehouse in the Pembrokeshire coast national park, in south-west Wales, was awarded the highest honour of the best pub.
The guide described it as “a slice of rural heaven close to the Pembrokeshire coast” with “good rooms, hearty food, wonderful walks and beautiful beaches”.
Gary and Becky Evans, who run the winning inn, told newspaper Wales Online they were very proud of their team.
They said: "We constantly strive to offer a fantastic taste of Pembrokeshire for our guests using the very best local fresh fish and ingredients throughout our menu."
The most authentic pub title went to the traditional 18th century Three Tuns Freehouse, Wiltshire.
Wonderful confirmation
Ashley Wisley of the Three Tuns Freehouse told The Morning Advertiser: “We’ve worked incredibly hard since reopening he Three Tuns six years ago to establish it as an excellent and lively village pub serving high-quality, fresh food alongside carefully conditioned local cask ales, and a select wine list and spirits.
“It takes a while to establish a proper and authentic village pub with its own character, and we feel like we have really hit our stride now.
“This award is just a wonderful confirmation to us, our incredibly dedicated team and our loyal patrons for everything we’ve created here together.”
The best community pub award was won by the Abingdon Arms, Oxfordshire.
Licensee Aimee Bronock said: “The Abingdon Arms is an iconic pub that has been saved for prosperity by the local community, which is an inspirational story for other communities around the country that are faced with losing their locals."
Heart of our community
She added: “We feel the pub is very much the heart of our community and the focal point for anyone who wants to come for a delicious meal, a quiet pint or a chat with our friendly bar staff, or to take part in any of the events and activities we put on each month.
“Sawdays is such a well-respected organisation, and one that I have personally used and followed for many years, so we are all delighted to have been chosen for this wonderful award."
Best newcomer was won by the 15th century Litton pub, Somerset, which offers a boutique hotel experience as a destination pub in the countryside.
Winning the title of best pub with rooms was the 15th century Swan Inn, Swinbook, Oxfordshire, where former prime minister David Cameron took the former French president Francois Hollande for lunch in 2014.
The Holford Arms, Gloucestershire, won best pub for local, seasonal and organic produce.
It was described by Sawdays as an “unassuming country inn,” containing “more secrets than you can shake a stick at,” including a reputation for incredible Thai food.
