ICG make it a double at the National Pub & Bar Awards
The Inn Collection Group are celebrating further recognition at the National Pub & Bar Awards following Finals Night in London, with two inns named as regional champions for 2024.
The Harrogate Inn built on its North Yorkshire county win back in April to be named Pub & Bar of the Year for Yorkshire and The Humber, whilst Beaumaris’ The Bull’s Head Inn Wales away with the same title for Wales.
Both sites had to beat off stiff competition with a total of five pubs making up the Yorkshire and Humber region and eight vying for the honour of being top dog in Wales, whilst in the north west, Cumbria county winner The Swan saw its regional gong go to the entry from Cheshire.
Organised in conjunction with Pub & Bar magazine and now in its eighth year, the National Pub & Bar Awards showcases the UK’s finest pubs and bars nationally, each year crowning the best venues within 94 counties across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The 94 County Winners are then invited to the National Pub & Bar Awards Grand Final. There, 13 Regional Winners and one overall National Pub & Bar of the Year are revealed in front of hundreds of industry leaders.
Hailed for offering classic hospitality to locals and tourists alike at the heart of its town, The Bull was praised for providing everything expected from a site that has been part of its community for hundreds of years.
Bought by the group in November 2022, Beaumaris’ The Bull’s Head Inn dates to the 15th century and retains all the character it has acquired over six centuries.
From its listed bar decorated with an array of memorabilia including antique weaponry and reputedly the town’s original ducking stool to a newly renovated lounge, The Bull boasts plenty of comfy spots all get cosy by open log fires.
General manager Paul Garth said: “It’s a real proud dad moment and I’m made up that we’ve been named the best pub in Wales.
“We have a brilliant team at The Bull, and they thoroughly deserve this recognition. They are what makes the pub such a welcoming place that people want to spend time in.
“The county award has been great for us, with a lot of familiar local faces returning to us for food and drinks and a good spring in terms of room occupancy. I can’t wait to see what this regional award does!”
The Harrogate Inn meanwhile was hailed as another impressive conversion by The Inn Collection Group and praised for providing an environment in keeping with the spa town’s upmarket hospitality scene.
Opening after a multi-million-pound renovation in July 2023, The Harrogate Inn and more specifically Barking George has quickly established itself as a destination venue.
With opulent, Instagram-able surroundings, there is a sense of grandeur far removed from Barking George’s previous incarnation whilst its new outdoor terrace is the perfect spot from which to look out onto the hustle and bustle of Crescent Gardens.
General manager Henry White said: “We’re thrilled with this award, all of the county winners that made up the region are very strong venues so to be named best of is quite special.
“We’ve had an incredible first year as Barking George and The Harrogate Inn and the response to the change from the old hotel to a vibrant new bar has been so well received.
“With our first anniversary of our opening coming up in a few days, winning the Yorkshire and Humber title is such a good way for the team at the inn to mark that milestone.”