Two East Lancashire pubs have come home victorious from the Thwaites Hospitality Awards,
The Grey Mare in Belthorn and the Eagle & Child, Ramsbottom, have been praised for their pub grub at the awards, which celebrate excellence across the company’s portfolio of 198 landlord and tenanted pubs.
Held at North Lakes Hotel and Spa in Penrith, each of the 13 winners will enjoy a two-night all-expenses paid trip away, with previous winners enjoying breaks in Rome, Riga and Budapest.
The winners were revealed following a rigorous judging process involving interviews, mystery visits, and customer feedback.
The Grey Mare won the best pub food award. It is a dog-friendly, traditional country, award-winning pub, offering a relaxed atmosphere and warm welcome to locals, visitors and families. One of the highest pubs in England, situated on the moors of Lancashire, guests enjoy some spectacular panoramic views. On clear days, you can see as far as the Ribble Estuary, the coast and Blackpool Tower.
The pub is known for its traditional pub classics, homemade favourites and Sunday roasts. Some items on the menu include fish and chips, steak and stilton pie and steaks.
The inn won due to a number of factors, including high quality, perfectly executed and excellent choice of menu with a fantastic price point. The inn strives to deliver excellent service, with the team’s passion still visible after 27 years.
A spokesperson said: “We are super proud to announce we have won the national award for best pub food.
“We are truly honoured to receive this award. Great big thank you to our amazing team for your hard work and commitment to excellence. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and passion of every single member of our team.
“Thank you all for your support and for making this journey so rewarding, giving us the motivation to continue to strive for excellence.”
The Eagle & Child, on Whalley Road, won the award for best premium pub food. Haggis on toast, Sunday lunch and hot honey chicken thigh burger are some of the items that have featured on the menu.
A spokesperson said: “A huge thank you and congratulations to our head chef, George, and our manager, Issy, as well as to both the kitchen and front of house team at Eagle & Child.
“We are immensely proud of the hard work and dedication shown by our amazing team. All of this is made possible by the ongoing support from our customers, thank you.”
Andrew Buchanan, director of pubs and brewing at Thwaites, said: “Behind every great pub is a team of people who care deeply about what they do - and these awards are our way of saying thank you. It’s about recognising the passion, the hard work, and the moments of magic our teams create every day.
“This year’s finalists have gone above and beyond, and we couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve achieved.”
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