A Shipston pub has reached the finals of a national competition, and hopes to be crowned the Best Pub in the UK.

The George Townhouse in Shipston-on-Stour has recently been named the Best Pub in Warwickshire in the National Pub and Bar Awards.

The pub could even go on to be crowned as a regional winner or Best Pub in the UK at an award ceremony on Tuesday May 23 at the BAFTA theatre in London.

The Townhouses’ general manager, Pete Nicholas said: “We are thrilled to be named as the best pub in Warwickshire. We’ve worked hard to make the George the ‘go to’ pub locally.”

“It’s great to have that effort rewarded and we’re now looking forward to next month when we could be named as the best pub in the whole region, or even the UK. We’ve got everything crossed.”

The pub is a Grade II listed building on Shipston’s High Street, and was alongside more than 500 pubs that entered the popular competition.

It was one of just 94 county winners, and impressed as it was judged on everything from interior design to customer service.

Tristan O’Hana, editor of the Pub & Bar magazine, which runs the award said: “Our County Winners are shining examples of that energy and creativity.

“They are what makes the pubs and bars of the UK so renowned. The team at the George Townhouse are to be congratulated on reaching our Grand Final.

It was also shortlisted earlier this year in the Publican Awards, specifically for its accommodation.

For more information about The George Townhouse, visit their website http://thegeorgeshipston.co.uk/