Meet the finalists for Best Country/Rural Pub sponsored by Everard Cole

Located in leafy Amwell, the Elephant & Castle is an 18^th​ century pub with great character features including a thatched roof and picturesque views.

The two gardens house a wild flower area, children’s play frame and hidden secrets to explore, giving something for everyone.

A great place to escape the hustle and bustle, the pub is popular with bicycle and horse riders as well as walkers and those looking for a large, open space to eat, drink and relax in.

A family-friendly venue, the Elephant & Castle also prides itself on its local sourcing ethos across the business.

Vegetables are delivered fresh each morning, fish is caught each day from harbours in the south east as well as beef and lamb come from neighbouring counties.

Furthermore, chicken is free range and fed on brewers grain, produced in the business’ own brewery.

The pub boasts more than 40 wines from England and around the globe meaning there’s always something to whet your whistle.

A delightful country pub, the Old Queens Head is full of charm, character and friendly faces with all welcome.

Diners have the option to relax by the roaring log fire in the bar area when the weather is chilly or enjoy the garden and terrace, overlooking to village church for the summer months.

Everything on the menu is freshly made in the kitchen include ice creams and chutneys while dishes change in line with the seasons, using the best local produce available.

Customers who grow their own veg are encouraged to bring their goods in as the pub will accept them as currency.

Drinkers can sip on a selection of real ales and lagers, premium spirits alongside a range of soft drinks and organic juices.

Events are a big focus here such as Oktoberfest, live music and other community-focused get togethers.

After being closed for more than a year amid the pandemic, the Cherry Tree reopened with Amy White and Chris Horton at the helm in June 2021.

This dog-friendly, country pub is making great strides in being an integral part of its local community.

With a village pub vibe, guests experience plenty of charm, lots of character and dogs curled up in front of the open fires, alongside the tempting smell of great food, while threating themselves to a broad selection of drinks.

The menu has something for everyone with a variety of meaty, veggie, vegan and gluten-free options available.

This is also the case for drinks as the bar is stocked with local ales, a plethora of tea variants, coffees, gins and more.

Live music and quizzes are regular features at the Cherry Tree and it is instilled in its local community, being part offering dog walks, festive markets and charity events.

Part of The Greedy Gordon Group, the Red Lion is an idyllic traditional village pub, just outside Kettering. The village is steeped in history, with the pub being a mainstay since the 1700s.

It aims to bring people together through warm hospitality and a love of delicious food and drink.

The menu is inventive, imaginative and aims to always be creative, giving the local pub scene a new and diverse way of eating.

With more than 50 years combined experience in the industry, Richard Gordon and Sonya Harvey have put their all into the pub, making it a bustling part of the community since its launch. As a result, it has won various awards through the years for its food and more.

With a real focus on sustainability, the Red Lion also has fresh, local ingredients on its menu, a variety of drinks on its bar and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

The Three Hills is a 17^th​ century, Grade II-listed pub, close to Cambridge and is the only remaining pub and community facility in the village of just over 100 residents.

Originally opened as an alehouse in the mid-1800s, the pub is named after the three hills aka Tumuli – ancient burial mounds originally part of a seven-mound group, considered to be the largest in Europe.

It has six en-suite bedrooms, which are all dog friendly as well as a two-bedroom furnished flat for those wanted to stay longer.

While the pub has a rich history, its award-winning kitchen holds two AA Rosettes and a Michelin Plate as well as being listed as one of the 100 Top 50 Gastropubs.

The Three Hills welcomes customers with its strong food and drink offer as well as a plethora of events.

This includes Christmas wreath-making workshops, children’s activities in the school holidays and fun days for all the family.

The Ye Olde Bridge Inn is a family run, independent countryside pub in the rolling Nottinghamshire countryside.

In the summer months, the pub holds picnics where guests are encouraged to bring their own blankets and enjoy hampers from the kitchen.

The village venue has an event space in its barn where it hosts baby showers, birthdays and a variety of other celebrations.

Furthermore, the garden is also home to the 20ft play dome where there is soft play and Montessori toys available for the smallest guests alongside a children’s play area for older kids.

But that’s not all the pub’s outdoor area holds, it is also home to a secret garden. Filled with fairy lights, decorations and furs, it’s the perfect place for guests to get together, try a sharing board and a cocktail, no matter the temperature.

Its food offer has something for everyone with street-inspired dishes that include a number of meat-free options, gluten-free and child-friendly meals.