The bull in Towcester.
A family pub from Northamptonshire has made it onto the shortlist of six pubs that are still in the running for the national Pub of the Year award.
The Bull on Brackley Road, Towcester has the chance to win Pub of the Year from Stonegate Pub Partners at the Great British Pub Awards (GBPAs).
Aside from hundreds of other entries, the pub’s family-friendly vibe with a wide variety of dining options has been a big part of the pub’s success.
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The customs officers Cymon and Claire Marks opened a then abandoned pub in February 2019.
Since then, they have carefully restored and redesigned the venue during the pandemic.
When the pub was able to reopen after the lockdown, the food proved popular.
The couple is now happy to be shortlisted for the national prize.
Claire said: “We are very excited to be in the finals of the Great British Pub Awards.
“We worked hard to make the business what it is today and it is amazing that this is being recognized.
“I am so proud of my team and everything we have achieved in the last 18 months.”
The Great British Pub Awards recognize, reward and celebrate the work pubs do for the community and are widely recognized as the “Oscars” of the UK pub industry.
Simon Longbottom, CEO of the Stonegate Group, added: “The entire Stonegate Group stands behind Claire and Mark and their team.
“We are incredibly proud of the ingenuity they have shown against all odds and their contribution to the success of The Bull, both as a pub and as a company.
“On behalf of myself and the entire company, we wish you all the best in the final.”
The Bull is open seven days a week and the team offers quality food and drink, including a selection of homemade traditional dishes.
The dishes are freshly prepared to order by experienced chefs.
The pub will find out later this year whether it succeeded in winning the category.