THREE top eateries in East Lancashire have been recognised by their peers with places in the top 50 gastropubs awards list.
The Parkers Arms in Ribble Valley, the Freemasons at Wiswell and the White Swan at Fence were all praised for their culinary delights.
The “Estrella Damm” Top 50 Gastropub Awards are voted for by top foodies and hospitality experts.
The Parkers Arms landed fourth spot while the Freemasons were sixth and the White Swan 23rd.
Parker Arms food
Stosie Madi, head chef at the Parkers Arms said: “We are delighted to be number four and in the top five in this most prestigious national list.
“The list is voted for by industry greats, experts and contemporaries and if anyone knows their food and drink it is them so it is a big high for us.
“We are very proud once again to be flying the flag for Lancashire along with the Freemasons at Wiswell, the White Swan at Fence and the Cartford Inn at Great Eccleston.
“This is a huge morale booster for the whole team and we are even more excited to be opening up our garden in April to welcome everyone to celebrate with us. Diners can book to sit in our lovely marquee.”
On the website, judges said: “The number of awards that have been bestowed on the pub are testament to the high quality of cooking, as well as the outstanding customer service at the front of house.
"Stosie's continuous rise on the Top 50 Gastropubs list in recent years is recognition from her peers, who voted her into the top 10 this year, seeing her rise from 13th position to 8th - now to 4th”
Steven Smith, Chef Owner of The Freemasons at Wiswell, said: “This has been an incredibly tough year for the hospitality sector. “Gastropubs have done absolutely everything they can to adapt their offer during lockdown and now the light is at the end of the tunnel and we can’t wait to reopen and start serving people in the pub again.
“Voted for by industry professionals, the Top 50 Gastropubs is full of fantastic establishments at the top of their game and Lancashire have once again shown they’re up there with the best of them, with two pubs in the top 10.
“We’re proud to be number six and have big ambitions for the coming years – we’re determined to climb that list and move up the table in next year’s awards.
“A big congratulations to everyone who featured in the list, I know we’re all looking forward to celebrating with our customers in the near future.”
The judges said: “The Freemasons, Steven Smith’s elegant Lancashire gastropub is deserving of it position among the top 10, which it has held for several years now.”
White Swan at Fence food
The White Swan at Fence tweeted: “Well done everyone, thank you at the Top50 Gastropubs, we’re over the moon, to be in the list is a great honour.”The judges said: “To put it simply the White Swan at Fence is a local pub that serves food, real ales and fine wines – and nothing more, according to the owners. Yet to the keen observer, this is a statement that reeks of modesty. The highest new entry of 2018 partnered by Bibendum launched into the list at an impressive 19 before rising 10 spots to ninth in 2020.”
The awards are voted for by gastropub operators, who can’t vote for their own pubs, food writers, pubco catering development managers and executive chefs, celebrity and top hospitality industry chefs, pub guide editors, industry chiefs and food operators. The voting criteria ensures the list really is decided by the industry.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel