A PUB in Hartley Wintney beat Premier League opposition to be recognised for the quality of its roast dinners.

The Phoenix Inn, in London Road, Phoenix Green, won the inaugural Best British Roast Dinner award after a mystery diner scored a meal there as the best in the UK.

The Punch Taverns pub had been in a shortlist of five, which included the club restaurant at Aston Villa Football Club.

Landlady Sisi Ryder and her husband Andrew received a certificate for winning the competition, organised by Knorr.

She said: “We are over the moon. We’ve been working so hard for the last three years and have always been particular about provenance, seasonality and freshness.”

Richard Pask, Punch Taverns’ Partnership Development manager, said: “I believe Andrew and Sisi deserve to win this award, it is a credit to the superb work they do.”