Let’s drink to the region’s pub successes. More than 20 pubs in Suffolk and north Essex are to feature in 2015 edition of the Good Pub Guide.
And one pub has stood out from the rest in the area, winning the County Dining Pub of the Year title in Suffolk.
The White Horse Inn in Sibton, has won the award for the second time, after winning it in 2012.
The pub is run by landlord Neil Mason, along with his wife, landlady Gill. The kitchen is run by head chef James Finch.
Mr Mason said: “We’ve been at the pub for nine years, it’s hard work but we continue to enjoy it.
“This award is the icing on the cake. It was a good feeling in 2012 and it’s an even better feeling now.
“When you consider the competition here in Suffolk there’s strong competition in the area.
“We work hard and we always aim to win but we were surprised this time because there’s so much competition.
“It was delightful to find out we were winners again.”
Mr Mason also made a special mention to his head chef, Mr Finch, saying: “He joined here four years ago as a sous chef.
“We had a chef responsible for winning the previous awards in the pub, and when he left we asked ourselves whether we should promote James or find a new head chef. He’s stepped up to the job. It was seamless.”
Mr Finch said: “It’s amazing. You work as hard as you can to keep the standard high.
“I think the secret is to offer something to everyone. You have good food that can be found in some of the better hotels and things like fish and chips and it all fits in.
“I jumped for joy when I found out the pub had won.
“I have come to an award- winning pub and it’s nice to carry on where others left off.”
Alisdair Aird and Fiona Stapley, editors of the guide, believe that after years of doom and gloom, the pub scene is finally booming.
They comment: “The pub scene has changed utterly from the days of decrepit boozers with dull beer and freezer-pack food to a thriving industry that’s now finding ingenious ways of pleasing millions of new customers.
“Although around 28 pubs are closing a week, many of them are being re-opened by visionary and energetic new licensees.
“It is the success of these pubs that has definitely led to a new mood of forward-looking confidence in the pub world.”
Pubs in Suffolk listed in the Good Pub Guide 2015 include:
Aldeburgh - Cross Keys
Boxford - Fleece
Bury St Edmunds - Old Cannon
Chelmondiston - Butt and Oyster
Dunwich - Ship
Eastbridge - Eels Foot
Edwardstone - White Horse
Ipswich - Fat Cat
Lindsey Tye - Red Rose
Long Melford - Black Lion
Middleton - Bell
Pettistree - Greyhound
Rede - Plough
Sibton - White Horse Inn
Southwold - Crown
Southwold - Harbour Inn
Southwold - Lord Nelson
Stoke-By-Nayland - Crown
Walberswick - Anchor
Walberswick - Bell
Waldringfield - Maybush
Westleton - Crown
Whepstead - White Horse
Pubs in North Essex listed in the Good Pub Guide 2015:
Feering - Sun
Gosfield - Kings Head
For more information visit www.thegoodpubguide.co.uk
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