A PUB in Droitwich is in with a chance of being named Worcestershire’s best after being shortlisted for the final of a regional award.
The Pillar of Salt is among three Worcestershire pubs to be shortlisted for the county winner accolade within the National Pub and Bar Awards.
Joshua Matheson, who runs the Pillar of Salt, told the Standard: “It’s a huge honour for our community pub to be recognised alongside other outstanding venues, including those in the Bromsgrove & Droitwich area.”
The annual event, which returns to London on June 24, highlights an eclectic range of venues across the whole of the UK by naming 94 sites as the best in their respective counties.
Droitwich’s nominee will come up against The Wildmoor Oak and Ye Olde Black Cross in Bromsgrove in the award final.
“The aim of the National Pub & Bar Awards is simple,” said Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub & Bar magazine, which runs the event. “We want to showcase how brilliant these businesses are and how valuable pubs and bars are to fabric of society across the whole of the UK.
“It has never been harder in hospitality. Whether it’s a countryside pub with rooms or a city centre bar showing live sport, these operations deserve widespread recognition and more custom.”
The awards look at a number of elements, including marketing, digital presence, design, service, style of offer and investment.
The venues now have over two months in which to trade off their achievement, before making their way to the National Pub & Bar Awards grand final in June.
Held at Big Penny Social in London, the final will welcome all 256 nominees to come together and celebrate their success, before discovering which venues will go on to become County and Regional Winners.
The awards night will also crown the Pub Group of the Year, Bar Group of the Year, The Tyrrells Tyrrellbly Good Taste Award – presented by the event’s headline sponsor – and, ultimately, the overall National Pub & Bar of the Year.
On top of that, the 2025 event will launch the Top 10 Pubs & Bars in the UK list, which has been voted for by hundreds of operators from across the country.
The National Pub & Bar Awards 2025 is sponsored by Tyrrells, Booker, Cawston Press, ICRTouch, Randall Parker Food Group, Sky Business and Strongbow.
