The pub run by licensees Jonathan Barry, Julian Muggridge and Laura Sheffield, was also named South West Pub of the Year after taking the Dining Pub of the Year title in 2011. Judges said that it “has plenty of individuality and scores all round, on food, drinks, service and, above all, atmosphere”.
There were 21 awards handed out in various categories including: Own Brew Pub of the Year going to the Church Inn at Uppermill, Lancs; Brewery of the Year, the Nethergate Brewery in Pentlow, Suffolk; Beer Pub of the Year, the Nags Head in Malvern, Worcs; and Wine Pub of the Year, Woods of Dulverton, Somerset. Landlord of the Year went to Jeremy Lee of the New Inn at Cerne Abbas, Dorset.
The Good Pub Guide came under criticism last year after it announced that pubs will be charged up to £200 — fees are either £99 or £199 depending on the size of outlet. However, 3,500 entries for smaller “other good pubs” remain free of charge.
“All the pubs that won awards are absolute star winners,” said Guide co-editor Fiona Stapely. “Some won awards for wine, others for whisky and some for beer, but what they all have is a good licensee backed by a great community.”
She added: “It is important to note that no pub can pay to get into the guide, the criteria is all exactly the same as before in that we are totally committed [to the concept] that pubs get in on merit. We take recommendations from our readers into consideration and also make unannounced inspections.”
The guide revealed that the average price of a pint of beer has seen a 20p increase since last year to £3. It noted that the price gap is 30p between the north and the south-east — a pint in the north costs around £2.87, compared to £3.15 in the south-east.