Ringing endorsement for community pub

3:57pm Friday 4th April 2008

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THE WARMEST welcome in the West Midlands can be found in a Herefordshire country pub.

Staff at The Bell Inn, Bosbury, have been celebrating after completing a hat-trick of successes this year.

The pub has triumphed in the regional final of the Community Pub of the Year competition, run by Punch Taverns.

The hostelry saw off 800 rivals from the West Midlands to win the Best Community Experience section, completing a trio of accolades.

This latest success comes after the pub won a four-star hygiene rating from Herefordshire Council and Cask Marque accreditation for its keeping of ales.

Judges described The Bell as one of the best community pubs they had ever visited, with very high standards and very friendly staff.

Licensees Robert Crampton and Alison Archer were also commended for their community initiatives in winning the award, which include a grocery service and sponsorship of the village cricket team.

The pair said they were "thrilled to bits" to win the award and received a £500 gift experience voucher for their success.

"We set out to create a great community pub and so to receive recognition for that is just fantastic," they said.