A PUB in the Hampshire countryside has been named as one of the best in the UK.

The Cricketers Inn, in Curdridge, is one of eight venues in the south east that will now compete for the title of National Pub & Bar of the Year in the 2022 National Pub & Bar Awards.

It was one of 94 pubs and bars across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to scoop a prestigious County Winner title in the awards, organised by trade publication Pub & Bar.

Stuart Downie, pub landlord for the Cricketers Inn, said: "It's fantastic for me and the staff. We're getting recognition for the hard work that we're doing and hopefully this will springboard into other awards, so we're really chuffed.

"It's great news for the team and great news for everyone. We opened in 2020, coming out of lockdown and we didn't know how it would go.

"As soon as we turned that key we did well. We did quite a bit of renovation to the pub and we have continued renovating as we've gone along.

"We have had a brand new kitchen installed and we've tripled the size of the kitchen.

"We've got an out building being built for a pizza kitchen with extra tables and chairs, so for me, we're absolutely busy.

Basingstoke Gazette: Winchester pub competing for National Pub & Bar of the Year title after being one of the best venues in South East. Credit: The Cricketers Inn

"We won Pub of the Year for Prestige Awards and this is another great platform for us building our business, so were really chuffed."

The pubs, which have been selected on overall best practice across a number of operational categories, will be officially crowned at a red carpet celebration in London in June, where 15 regional winners will also be announced, as well as the esteemed accolade – the overall National Pub & Bar of the Year.

The National Pub & Bar Awards aims to put exemplary on-trade businesses across the UK in the national spotlight, showcasing the hospitality industry’s diversity, creativity and vital importance to the UK economy.

Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub & Bar magazine, which hosts the event, said: “Just from being out in these venues, you can see how much pubs and bars mean to people across the UK.

“With visitor numbers increasing, it’s more important than ever for operators to deliver a standout service during every visit – no matter the business in question. These 94 County Winners are wonderful examples of the brilliance of today’s modern on-trade. If you live near one of these sites, make sure you pay them a visit!”

Basingstoke Gazette: Winchester pub competing for National Pub & Bar of the Year title after being one of the best venues in South East. Credit: The Cricketers Inn

The other pubs in the south include: The Hartley Arms, Berkshire, The Nag’s Head, Buckinghamshire, The Joker, East Sussex, The Tiger Inn, Kent, The Angel Inn, Petworth, The Horseshoes, Oxfordshire and Cricketers on The Green, Pirbright.

The overall National Pub & Bar of the Year was won by Galvin Green Man, in Essex, in 2021.

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