Fox & Hounds is Britain's top pub
The Fox and Hounds in Newmillerdam, West Yorkshire has been voted the top pub in the UK in a Morning Advertiser poll of over 200 senior industry personnel.
The Enterprise Inns leased pub is run by trade newcomers Nick and Jacqueline Stanton.
"We want to give people the same experience that we look for in a pub — something we haven't found in Wakefield," said Jacqueline.
Food was made a top priority when the pub opened in January 2008 following an £80,000 refurbishment. According to Jacqueline, the 65-cover restaurant has turned a corner since bringing in a new chef, whose Italian-influenced menu offers a wide choice of pastas, pizzas and pub classics at value-for-money prices.
"We have quite a large menu considering we use fresh produce," she said. "And we make our own bread and Yorkshire puddings."
Quiet periods have been turned around with afternoon tea between 3pm and 5pm, which is luring custom from the nearby café, and an early bird meal deal between 5pm and 7pm.
One of the Stantons' most innovative moves was opening a tuckshop to attract park visitors into their newly decked beer garden. The timber unit cost £4,000 to build and sells everything from ice cream to dog treats.
A strong local trade has been established by introducing entertainment such as jazz and quizzes throughout the week, and by stocking regional brews from Ossett, Timothy Taylor and Black Sheep.
The full list of the Top 20 were:
1. Fox and Hounds, Newmillerdam, West Yorkshire
2. White Lion, Barthomley, Cheshire
3. Swan in the Rushes, Loughborough, Leicestershire
4. The Taps, Lytham, Lancashire
5. Horse & Groom, Malmesbury, Wiltshire
6. Open House, Brighton, East Sussex
7. Sun & Hotel & Bar, Lancaster, Lancashire
8. Carnarvon Arms, Burghclere
9. Lambert Arms, Aston Rowant, Oxfordshire
10. Talbot Inn, Ripley, Surrey
11. The Avon, Avon Dassett, warwickshire
12. Ring O'Bells, Christleton, Cheshire
13. Nightingale, Balham, London
14. Plough, Harborne, Birmingham, West Midlands
15. Villiers Terrace, Crouch End, London
16. Coopers Tavern, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire
17. Churchill Arms, Kensington, London
18. Fountain, Clent, West Midlands
19. Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
20. Hope Pole Inn, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
