A WORCESTERSHIRE pub that has been in the same family for three generations is in good cheer after winning a £5,000 bar tab.
Glasses will be raised at The Three Kings Inn in Hanley Castle on Saturday, May 16 after it landed the windfall for National Pub Day.
The drinks are on The Telegraph, which is campaigning to save local premises which are closing at an alarming rate across the UK.
Licensee Sue Roberts said: “The drinks tab came as a surprise as I didn’t even know we’d been nominated – a customer put us forward without telling us.
“There were 1,200 nominations so the chances of us coming out top were pretty slim.
“It feels good.”
HOME: Sue Roberts, the licensee of the Three Kings, was born there, has never left and says she never will (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
The ‘beautiful and ancient’ pub stood out for its importance to the local community in the eyes of The Telegraph’s judging panel.
Ms Roberts has been in charge behind the taps for 20 years with a gradual transition from her mother’s ownership.
The pub has been in her family for three generations stretching back to 1911, with the building dating back more than 500 years.
“The Telegraph put something out saying an average of two pubs a day are closing in 2026,” Ms Roberts said.
“They are trying to redress the balance by encouraging readers to use their local, which is very welcome.”
ATMOSPHERE: The bar at Nell’s Lounge in The Three Kings Inn in Hanley Castle (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Anyone wanting to enjoy the day will need to bring cash as the village pub does not take card payments.
There will also be a chance to try out the limited-edition ‘Telegraph Ale’, a classic English bitter, for customers who have registered for the offer.
The four other winning pubs are: The White Horse Inn, Stourpaine; The Five Bells, Rattlesden, Bury St Edmunds; Brown and Blacks, Scone, Perth and The Blacksmiths Arms, Lastingham, York.
William Sitwell, The Telegraph’s restaurant critic and columnist, who helped choose The Three Kings, said: “The Telegraph’s National Pub Day is a vital moment in the year.
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“The winners of Save Our Pubs all share the nuggets of what makes a great pub: they are wonderful businesses; they serve great beer; they act as hubs of comfort and welcome and constantly innovate to find ways of attracting business…
“Pubs are not just the hub of a community, they are the beating heart of Britain.”
For more information search for ‘The Telegraph’ and ‘National Pub Day’.
