The Clifton Arms from Blackburn in national pub awards final

The Clifton Arms has been shortlisted as a finalist in PubAid’s Community Pub Hero Awards.

The pub was nominated by landlady Carole Davies in the community support hero category which saw competition from almost 1,000 other pubs nationwide.

This award recognises licensees who help their communities and looks to recognise pubs which are a ‘good neighbour’ to your their community.

Three other pubs, The Bell and Bear, The Admiral Rodney Inn and The Rose and Crown, in Emberton, Harshorne and Ashbury respectively, have also been shortlisted.

It is the only Lancashire pub to have been shortlisted in the category.

The pub was shortlisted because it has been transformed into a vibrant community hub, providing resources for those less fortunate while attracting new customers and maintaining trade through difficult times.

The Clifton Arms identified the needs of low-income families, 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.

Carole Davies, landlady of The Clifton Arms (Image: NQ)

Carole said: "We are absolutely delighted to have been nominated and finding out we are shortlisted.

“This is a credit to all team Clifton. We have an amazing community of people caring for others in all ways.

"Team Clifton Always go above and beyond. Community matters well done to all involved."

The winners will be announced at an award ceremony, sponsored by Matthew Clark, at the Houses of Parliament on March 5.

All shortlisted pubs are invited to attend along with industry leaders and MPs.

Des O’Flanagan, co-founder of PubAid, said: “We launched these awards to celebrate the great work that pubs do for their community.

"The Clifton Arms is a perfect example of how pubs support and are a hub for many people in their community.

“The awards are in their fifth year and the volume of entries this year was staggering. What clearly came across from reading all the entries is that there are so many publicans that are doing amazing work nationwide.

"It was very hard to get to a shortlist so even getting to the finals is an amazing accolade for The Clifton Arms."

PubAid, which organises the awards in association with Matthew Clark and the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group - of which Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans is president, has refreshed the awards and created more categories to congratulate more community pubs throughout the UK.

There are 33 finalists in total across five categories.