A rural country inn is celebrating this week after being crowned Suffolk Dining Pub of the Year for the second year running.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Mason family, Neil (left) Luke and Gillian at the Sibton White Horse which they run and has been named Suffolk Pub of the Year for Dining 2016 for the second year.The Mason family, Neil (left) Luke and Gillian at the Sibton White Horse which they run and has been named Suffolk Pub of the Year for Dining 2016 for the second year.

The White Horse Inn in Sibton received the accolade in the Good Pub Guide, released today, following an anonymous visit by judges earlier this year.

Landlords, married couple Neil and Gillian Mason, have said they are thrilled with the news.

Mr Mason said: “The Good Pub Guide is an institution within the industry and we are delighted to have won it for the second year running.

“To win it for the first time was obviously very pleasing, To win it for the second time is nothing short of fantastic.”

Each pub in the guide is ranked following a visit by judges and letters of support sent in by customers and local residents.

Editor of the Good Pub Guide, Fiona Stapley, said: “It’s a genuinely welcoming and bustling inn serving delicious food using home-grown produce and eggs from their own hens.

“On top of that, they offer a fine range of drinks - and hold two summer beer festivals - and the well-equipped and comfortable bedrooms are in a separate building next door.”

The award comes just one week after Mr and Mrs Mason celebrated 10 years at the White Horse. It remains very much a family run business, with Mrs Mason splitting her time between working in the kitchen and front of house, Mr Mason conducting the management and their son, Luke, 18, also working behind the bar and serving food.

Mr Mason said he had been told the White Horse was the only Suffolk pub to have won the accolade for two consecutive years.

He added: “We are very grateful to those who have supported us and have done now for over 10 years.

“It’s very much a family business. It’s fairly unusual now for someone to stay 10 years. The pub is old and full of character and the location is superb. We meet some wonderful people.

“We see ourselves as a good balance bewteen a pub and a restaurant. You come along to the White Horse and have what is a restaurant meal but enjoy it in the relaxed and informal environment of the village local and the mucky paws of the local dogs.”