A VILLAGE pub in the heart of the community has been named amongst the best in the country – here’s why.
The Bell Inn in Lower Broadheath made it to the finals of the Great British Pub Awards earlier this week and fought it out to be Stonegate Pub of the Year.
Despite not taking the award home, the popular village pub, which has been run by Ian and Lyndsey Davies for nearly two decades, made the top six out of more than 2,700 across the UK.
The duo has put the accolade down to their reinvestment into the pub, connection with the local community, and their staff.
Mr Davies said: “It was really good to make the top six. Obviously you are disappointed that you don’t win, but we started in a category of 2,700 pubs, so to get down to the last 6 was pretty impressive.
“It was a really nice surprise. The award makes a big difference for the pub and our team as well. We’ve been at The Bell now for 18 years; the business has always done well, it’s always grown, but to get some recognition for that and to get some recognition from your peers to tell you actually, you are doing a fantastic job, is amazing.”
It is currently really hard for pubs at the moment, with many pubs struggling to make ends meet, according to the longtime landlord, but the award meant a lot.
Mr Davies added: “I think we made it so far because of a combination of things.
“It is a combination of us investing back into the pub every year.
“Every year we give something new back to the pub.
“We do an awful lot for the community. So we have a community shop on our site. We do a lot for local councillors. We do a lot for a lot of local charity groups and the local school. We are always raising money, so that keeps the community really happy and involved in the pub.
“On top of that, we have our team who are phenomenal. They treat the guests fantastically and have a really high standard.
“So I think it is a combination of the offer we have, the standards we have, the commitment and connection we have with the local community. You put those three things together, and that is what makes the business stand out above others.”
