Publican Awards 2021

Best New Site - The Meynell Ingram Arms, from Berkeley Inns

By The Morning Advertiser

- Last updated on GMT

Industry celebration: the 2021 Publican Awards were held virtually on Tuesday 30 March
Industry celebration: the 2021 Publican Awards were held virtually on Tuesday 30 March

Related tags Pubco + head office Staffordshire Publican awards

Staffordshire’s Meynell Ingram Arms from Berkeley Inns was named Best New Site at the 2021 Publican Awards.

The Meynell Ingram Arms in Hoar Cross, Staffordshire, was described by the judges as "a pub for everyone". 

It was reopened by pub group Berkeley Inns in May 2019 after being closed for five years and offers a casual, relaxed dining and drinking environment with a high quality offer available throughout including the main restaurant, Meynell Bar & Restaurant and Sam’s Bar. 

The onslaught of the Covid pandemic saw the pub coming to the aid of its local community.  

When the first lockdown hit, the site transformed itself by offering a takeaway and adapted its outside bar into a shop, supporting local businesses. It also made homemade meals for takeaway while two free meals a week were offered to those over 70 who were vulnerable and shielding.

And Covid-19 did not stop the pub from innovating. It introduced a range of garden rooms, which allow for four to six people to dine in a safe, outside environment.

Celebrating excellence

Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser​, which organises the awards, said: “This year’s event has certainly been different, going from a gathering of 1,500 in Battersea to an online ceremony in the virtual world, but the ethos remains the same – celebrating excellence and there’s plenty to celebrate.

“Many companies, having faced the challenges and disasters of 2020 could be forgiven for pulling down the shutters and sitting the crisis out. Our finalists tonight, and many others in the sector, did the exact opposite of that, rose to the challenge and did some amazing things.

“We wanted to continue with the awards this year to recognise those businesses that made sacrifices and strove to not just keep going, but to improve and thrive in the teeth of a brutal storm.

“Here’s to next year when companies can get back to doing what they do best, providing outstanding hospitality experiences for their guests.”

  • Check out the full list of winners from the 2021 Publican Awards here

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