Blyth pub-owner wins top award

Owner of the White Swan at Blyth, Claire Wheeler, has been recognised as the Best Newcomer 2012 in the Yorkshire, North East and Scotland region in The Great British Pub Awards.

Claire came out on top and beat off many licensees from across after independent judges visited all the competing individuals.

The awards, organised by leading pub industry magazine, the Publican’s Morning Advertiser, are recognised as the Oscars of the pub world.

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser Editor Rob Willock said: “Claire is a worthy winner of the title, which recognises the individual that has made the greatest business impact since entering the trade after January 2011.”

Claire will now go forward to the Great British Pub Awards final, held at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane on Thursday 13th September and hosted by comedian Jason Manford.

From there, she will go head to head with three other regional winners for the UK title Best Newcomer 2012 and also have the opportunity to compete for the overall title of Great British Pub of the Year.

- For the full story see next Friday’s Guardian