Wellington wins top prize on Shep's awards night

The Duke of Wellington in Belgravia, London, has won the top prize in the 2003 Shepherd Neame Pub Awards. Managers John and Helen Bond won the overall Pub of the Year title in the competition. The Woolpack, Chilham, near Canterbury, Kent, won Marketing Pub of the Year and Managers of the Year for Anne and Brian Hogg. The Comet, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, won Loo of the Year and Most Improved Cellar. Ye Olde Whyte Lion, in Farnborough, Kent, won Best Cellar of the Year and the Woodman, also in Farnborough, was awarded Community Pub. The General's Arms, Little Badow, near Chelmsford in Essex won Training Pub of Year and the Pig and Whistle, Chignall Smealy, Essex, won the Beer in Glass award. The George Inn, Newnham, Sittingbourne, Kent, won the Pub Restaurant category and the Bishops Finger, Smithfield, London, scooped Pub Food of the Year. Other winners included the Bull, Linton, Kent, for Most Improved Pub of the Year; the Deal Hoy, Deal, Kent, for Wine Pub; the Seaview Hotel, Birchington, Kent, for Pub Garden; the Wilton Arms, Belgravia, for Hanging Baskets and the Royal Oak, Dartford, Kent, for The Welcome Award.