A pub in Blackburn has won an award and the landlady in charge is “over the moon”.

The Clifton Arms came out on top at the PubAid Community Pub Hero awards 2024. 

Landlady, Carole Davis, along with Blackburn MP, Kate Hollern, was at the ceremony in the Houses of Commons to accept the award for ‘best community support hero pub’ in England.

The award celebrates the work that the pub does to support the community and the judges were looking for a pub that acts as a ‘good neighbour’ for the people locally.

On winning the award, Carole said: “We always say it’s about people helping people. This award is for the community, to make them feel valued.

“They clubbed together and paid for me to come to the houses of parliament today, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.  I’m over the moon and can’t put it in any other words.

“I've had a marvellous time at the Houses of Parliament. It’s so much better than I could imagine having seen it on the TV. This is just unbelievable.” 

Lancashire Telegraph: The Clifton ArmsThe Clifton Arms (Image: NQ)

The pub won as it is provides resources for those less fortunate.

Located in Blackburn, amidst a high number of low-income families, The Clifton Arms identified their needs, nurtured a sense of community, and empowered a team of volunteers and local businesses to support and sponsor the hub.

In the past the pub has given away free fish and chip dinners to the less fortunate. It regularly runs free food events, including free Christmas dinner giveaways.

Des O’Flanagan, co-founder of PubAid, said: “The annual event is always very special for us and all the pubs who made it through to the finals.

"It is wonderful to hear so many stories of Publicans who do so much for their local communities and it’s heart-warming that pubs raise so much money for local and national charities and their regular customers are so generous when the cost of living makes things tough for many people.

“All 1,000 nominations we received are worthy of a congratulations but a special mention needs to be for those who made it through to the finals.

"The standard or entry this year has been so high that it gave our expert judges some difficult decisions.”

PubAid, which organises the awards in association with Matthew Clark and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, refreshed the awards and created more categories to congratulate more community pubs throughout the UK.

There were 33 finalists in total across five categories.