A Nottinghamshire pub which values families, whatever the age, has won a prestigious national award at the 'Pub Oscars'. The Great British Pub Awards' mission is to recognise and reward the finest pubs and put "bums on seats and pride in teams" across the country.
Winners were picked out of hundreds of entrants, who were put through two rigorous rounds of judging from industry professionals. Comedian Russel Kane presented the awards at a ceremony in Manchester, attended by hopefuls from four pubs in Nottinghamshire.
Ye Olde Bridge in Oxton took the crown for Best for Families - one of the 18 categories. The top pubs for food, watching sport, entertainment and dogs and the best rural and city locations were also awarded prizes.
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The pub, in Nottingham Road, beat five rivals to the title including another Notts contender, the Railway in Lowdham. It's four years since Hannah Lloyd took Ye Olde Bridge.
Taking to the stage she said: "Everyone comes from seven to 70 and it's important in our industry to cater for all different ages." She has invested considerably to create an attractive modern gastropub, with a growing local reputation, that caters for families of whatever shape or size.
The pub has a playground, a soft play dome and a maze to keep the kids entertained, but it’s a venue that puts as much value on 70th birthday parties as celebrations for the youngest members of the family.
Hannah added: "Ye Olde Bridge makes sure it’s a community-focused hub, with weekday coffee mornings for new mums, or tai chi and yoga classes in the huge meadow to the rear, performing an important role in bringing people together in a rural location where high street coffee chains can’t be found. "
The pub’s standalone refurbished barn gives it an extra events revenue stream, while sustainability credentials are in evidence, including beehives on-site.
Other Nottinghamshire contenders, who made the final but narrowly missed out on the top prize, included the Dog & Parrot in Eastwood, who were up for Community Hero. The Kitchen at the Cross Keys in Epperstone had been bidding for the title Best Pub for Food.
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