A PUB at the heart of its community has won the Stroud News & Journal’s award for the top watering hole in the area.

After hundreds of votes flooded in from our readers, the Pub of the Year crown has been claimed by The Crown and Sceptre in Horns Road.

Beloved for its wide selection of real ales, fantastic food and packed line-up of live entertainment including comedy and music, The Crown and Sceptre was hugely popular with SNJ readers.

The Crown and Sceptre overcame fierce competition from four other treasured locals which made our finalist shortlist – The Old Badger Inn in Eastington, The Old Fleece in Woodchester, The Prince Albert in Rodborough and The Red Lion in Arlingham and The Ship Inn in Brimscombe.

The landlords at The Crown and Sceptre can now look forward to a Pub of the Year 2019 trophy and a two-night stay at Melbourne Lodge in Hertfordshire as their prize.

See next week’s SNJ for an interview with the winners.