A RURAL pub has been named in the final of the ‘taste’ category at Visit England Awards for Excellence.

The owners of the Parkers Arms in Newton-in-Bowland in the Ribble Valley are now looking forward to the awards ceremony on Monday, May 12, at Cheltenham Racecourse.

All finalists are guaranteed to receive a gold, silver, bronze or highly commended award.

Kathy Smith from the pub said: “We are delighted to find out that we have reached the finals of this prestigious national competition.

“For our small, independently-owned family run rural pub to represent the North West in these awards is truly an honour.

“To be one of the top five throughout the country is an amazing achievement.”

James Berresford, chief executive of Visit England, said: “We receive hundreds of applications each year of an extremely high standard, so it is a tremendous achievement for Parkers Arms to become a finalist and to represent the top five in their category in England.”