Star Pubs & Bars announces best food pub at its annual awards
The Ruddington Arms in Ruddington, Nottingham, has been crowned Best Food Pub 2016 at the Star Pubs & Bars 2016 Star Awards in Liverpool.
The pub was taken over by Mark Anderson - who has worked for top chefs such as Terry Laybourne, Michel Roux and Gordon Ramsay - and his wife Sarah in 2014.
It underwent a £23,000 refurbishment to transform it to a friendly pub with an extended kitchen and dining area. In 2015 and 2016 it was accredited in the Michelin guide.
The judges said they were impressed by how fast the couple established the Ruddington Arms as an ‘outstanding place to eat' and praised their ethos of sourcing seasonally from local farms. They also liked the pub's selection of homemade pickles, jams, chutneys and cakes.
Fourteen awards were presented in total, ranging from Best Newcomer to Best Retailer.
Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs & Bars managing director, said: "Standards were higher than ever this year and the competition was very tough. The new talent we're attracting to Star is of a high calibre as these awards demonstrate. Likewise, many of our existing operators are at the forefront of the sector, pushing standards ever higher for the pub industry as a whole. It was a great honour to be able to recognise some of the country's greatest licensees in our Star Awards."
2016 Star Pubs & Bars Star Winners
Best Bar Team
PG Taverns (Scotland), Gordon Gilhooley and Iain Pert, the Jolly Botanist, Edinburgh
Live Sports Venue
Lauren and Jaimie Hopwood and Gavin Fernavs, the Thornton Arms, Burnley
Team Training
Flying Pig & Lobster, the Elephant, Liverpool
Heart of the Community
Pete Robinson and Ness Wilkinson, the Wheatsheaf, Woodplumpton, Lancashire
Famous for Food
Mark and Sarah Anderson, the Ruddington Arms, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire
Most Family Friendly
Kate Hayden and Paul Warriner, the Snow Goose, Farnborough, Hampshire
Best Outdoor Pub
Colin Stuart and Kenny Watson, CookHouse Pub & Carvery, Prestatyn, North Wales
Pint Perfection
Stephen and Tony Martin, Three Wheatsheaves, Nottingham
Best Cask Pub
David King, City Tavern, Newcastle
Marketing
Kelly and Darren Lea, The Faulkner, Hoole, Chester
Best Use of Social Media
Paul Thompson and Peter Evans, the Hastings, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland
Best Newcomer
Michael Thomas, the Dovecote, Narborough, Leicestershire
Retailer of the Year
Flying Pig & Lobster, The Elephant, Liverpool
Star Pub of the Year
Whiting & Hammond, Blue Ball, Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey
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