Old Horse Is The People's Choice
Posted on 18th June 2009
Everards pub the Old Horse on London Road won the Online Vote category in the Best Bar None awards, a collaborative scheme between Leicester City Council, Leicestershire Constabulary and the city’s licensed trade.
The pub was also runner up in the Best Bar and Family Friendly award categories.
Licensee Kevin Shepherdson, who runs the pub with wife Dee, said: “We are really pleased because this category was down to locals to decide who they felt should win.
“We had visits from judges representing the police and fire department to check our training policies and health and safety procedures, which of course are extremely important. But to know that out of all the hundreds of pubs shortlisted for Best Bar None people chose to vote for ours is hugely satisfying.”
The Old Horse was originally built the early 1800s as a coaching inn and stables. It has a garden area roughly the size of a football pitch extending into an old orchard at the back, complete with its own beach hut, barbeque, replica TARDIS police box and four resident barn owls.
Kevin said: “We do take responsible retailing extremely seriously. Pubs are very different businesses to how they used to be, appealing to a much broader range of customers, including couples and families.
“Licensees have to create an atmosphere everybody feels comfortable with and run their pubs professionally at all times.”
The awards will be a welcomed addition to the pubs trophy cabinet after being recognised as one of Everards Award Winning Licensees 2009 and CAMRA’s Pub of the Month earlier in the year.
The Best Bar None awards scheme started in Manchester and has since been replicated in 80 different locations across the UK. Its aim is to promote the responsible management of licensed premises and recognise good practice.
Leicester will host the annual Best Bar None conference in October 2009.
Want to find out more about the awards? Click here
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