Cream of the crop honoured at Pub Food Awards

Former soldier Paul Morgan, licensee of the Hampshire Arms in Crondall, picked up the prestigious title of Pub of the Year at last night's Publican Pub Food Awards.

Mr Morgan, whose pub was The Publican's Catering Pub of the Year 2001, was presented with his award at a glittering ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Centre in London's Westminster last night.

The judges said the Hampshire Arms provided "excellent, spectacular and unpretentious food in an intimate and friendly environment".

They added that the pub was "proof that pub food is breaking the mould".

Bluu in Nottingham was named Bar of the Year and Ellen Andrews, a former Savoy chef who now runs the kitchen at the Inn at Farnborough in Oxfordshire, picked up the highly sought-after award of Chef of the Year.

Spirit Group, which recently bought Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) Retail's pubs, picked up two awards for its dedication to pub grub. It was named Food Operator of the Year and its director of food and wine operations Jason Danciger walked away with the title of Catering Innovator of the Year.

Former S&N Retail brand Chef & Brewer was named Retail Brand of the Year - a real boost for the fresh food-led brand that has now been taken over by Spirit Group. The judges were impressed with Chef & Brewer's "commitment to outstanding food".

The awards were presented by celebrity chef and pub food fan Antony Worrall Thompson with entertainment provided by comedian Jason Wood.

The winners​

• Best British Food:​The Holly Bush Inn, Salt, Stafford
• Best Seafood:​The Anchor Inn, Cockwood, South Devon
• Best Vegetarian Food:​The White Horse, Strichen, Aberdeenshire
• Best Ethnic Food:​The Page, Pimlico, London
• Best Dessert Menu:​The Fox and Hounds, Bedale, North Yorkshire
• Best Children's Food:​Brewsters, Whitbread
• Best Wine Offering:​The Red Lion, Skipton, North Yorkshire
• Best Barbecue Experience:​The Pumphouse, Bristol
• Newcomer of the Year:​Steven Wright and Claire Alderson, the McOrville Inn, Elwick, Co Durham
• Catering Innovator of the Year:​Jason Danciger, Spirit Group
• Chef of the Year:​Ellen Andrews, the Inn at Farnborough, Oxfordshire
• Food Operator of the Year:​Spirit Group
• Retail Brand of the Year:​Chef & Brewer, Scottish & Newcastle Retail
• Bar of the Year:​Bluu, Nottingham
• Pub of the Year:​The Hampshire Arms, Crondall.