A PUB in the Ribble Valley has been voted the best in the country in the latest Egon Ronay awards.

The Inn at Whitewell was named Pub of the Year at a prestigious ceremony in Oxfordshire.

It is the second time the popular country hostelry has won the top award, the first time was in the late 1980s, and staff are already planning a celebration.

Manager Mr Jonty Haighton attended the awards ceremony on behalf of pub owner Mr Richard Bowman.

He said: "It was a great surprise and a great thrill to win the award.

"It is a very prestigious competition and we are delighted to win it." Secret judging had taken place in the months leading up to the competition finals and the Inn at Whitewell was visited on at least two occasions as a shortlist of prizewinning candidates was drawn up.

Mr Haighton added: "We have been given the top prize for our overall value and style, the standards of accommodation and our excellent beers and wines plus, of course, the friendly and helpful service provided by our staff."

It is the icing on the cake for the award winning pub which has collected a number of titles already this year including the Which? magazine Pub of the County prize.

Mr Haighton, who has been manager at the inn for 12 years, said: "We are all very excited about this latest award and once we get Christmas and the New Year out of the way I am sure we will be celebrating!"

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