JW Lees names Food Pub of the Year

North-west brewer and pub operator JW Lees has named its Food Pub of the Year in its Pub of the Year awards.

The Ship Inn at Wincle near Macclesfield won the accolade under management from Michael Hazelton and Cathy Dean.

"We are delighted to have won for ourselves and the rest of the team," said Dean. "I think the win is down to the quality of the food and cooking. Everything is home cooked and the menu changes frequently — we'll have at least a couple of new dishes on their once a week.

"We do hearty dishes — some of which we will never take off the menu as they are so popular — and we represent good value for money."

Dean says the most popular dishes at the pub are old favourites, such as fish and chips and loin of pork wrapped in bacon in a Calvados sauce with cream and apples (£12.75).

Food Pub of the Year runners up were the Golden Pheasant, Plumley, Cheshire, and the Halfway House, Royton, Lancashire, as runners up.