A popular Bowland Beer Hall in Clitheroe was voted the best pub or bar in Lancashire in April, and while it narrowly missed out on winning the regional North West prize, the Holmes Mill venue took home the top Taproom price.

The National Pub and Bar Awards 2022 took place in a glitzy ceremony in London this week, bringing together the country’s best pubs and bars for a night of celebration.

There were representatives from the 94 county winners at the event at 30 Euston Square, which were whittled down to the 15 best regional venues, an overall winner, plus a handful of other speciality prizes.

Bowland Beer Hall was crowned Taproom of the Year in the award category sponsored by keg and cask rental firm Kegstar.

Becky Blakeman, general manager of Bowland Beer Hall, said: “It’s really exciting and a step in the right direction for us.

“Heading into summer we are all really excited, we’ve got a great team, new beers and it’s really busy!”

On what makes Bowland stand out from the rest, she added: “There’s so many different things; we brew all our own beer here, I think it’s just everything about the place, it has a real personality.”

Bowland boasts one of the longest bars in the country, measuring more than 32 metres long and crammed with 42 hand pulls and a minimum of 24 different beers at any one time, not to mention keg beers, lager, cider, bottles and cans, all set in the converted mill giving a true Bavarian beer hall feel plus a food menu stacked with tasty meals and snacks.

In the regional award, Bowland Beer Hall was up against four other venues to be crowned the North West’s best pub or bar, which were: The Black Bull, Sedbergh (Cumbria); The Church Inn, Mobberley (Cheshire); Flight Club, Manchester (Greater Manchester); and Roxy Ball Room, Liverpool (Merseyside).

Bowland Beer Hall couldn’t quite clinch the North West prize to make it two wins on the night, which went to The Black Bull, which beat off its competition from the two pubs and two big city bar chain venues.

The overall national prize was won by The Frogmill in Shipton Oliffe, with the “characterful 16th Century pub in the heart of the Cotswolds” praised by judges for its “flawless operation, attention to detail and genuine hospitality”.

The pub, just outside Cheltenham, has a traditional bar, restaurant, boutique bedrooms and a wedding and functions space, plus extensive grounds overlooking the natural beauty of the Cotswolds.