Les Routiers puts inns on the map

The quality of food and commitment to sourcing local food in several gastro pubs has been recognised in the Les Routiers Pubs and Inns Awards 2005.

The Dartmoor Union Inn in Holbeton, Devon, has won the national title of Les Routiers Dining Pub of the Year 2005.

The pub's menu includes dishes such as roasted tomato and thyme soup, grilled halibut with a mixed herb butter and vanilla pod crame brulee.

Regional winners in the dining pub category of the awards are the Countryman Inn in Shipley, West Sussex, the Dartmoor Union Inn in Holbeton, Devon, the Three Horseshoes Inn in Derby, the Golden Lion in Osmotherley, Thirsk, Yorkshire and Welsh winner the Penhelig Arms in Aberdyfi, Gwynedd.

The awards also include a category for pubs that support their local food and drink producers.

The winners of these awards are the Royal Oak in Poynings, West Sussex, the Victoria Inn in Salcombe, Devon, the Swan in Felsted, Essex, the Sandpiper Inn in Leyburn, North Yorkshire and the Black Bear Inn in Bettws Newydd, Monmouthshire.

Other categories in the awards include inn of the year, real ale pub of the year, wine pub of the year and hospitality and service award.

The Les Routiers Pubs and Inns Guide 2006 , in which all the winners are featured is now available. The guide also includes features on the increasing use of locally produced and organic food in pubs and how the quality of beers and wines in pubs and bars has improved dramatically in recent years.

The Red Lion in Stathern, Leicestershire, run by the team behind the Michelin-starred Olive Branch in Clipsham, Rutland is AA Pub of the Year 2005/2006 for England. The White Swan in Llanfrynach near Brecon, Powys, is pub of the year for Wales and the Black Bull at Lauder, Scottish Borders is pub of the year for Scotland.

The AA Pub Guide 2006 which features the award winners is now available.