Historic Devon pub wins double Pub of the Year Awards

A popular South Devon village pub has won a top award.

The Cott Inn in Dartington has been recognised as the Pub of the Year at the pub industry’s nationally recognised Night of Excellent Awards.

Alongside winning the overall Pub of the Year Award, The Cott Inn also won Pub Garden of the Year at the awards.

A perennial award winner which has been recognised nationally by The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian as one of Britain’s best pubs, The Cott Inn is known for its combination of excellent food and drink alongside its accommodation.

The pub prides itself on serving food created using naturally reared Devon meats and local line-caught fish. This is combined with an excellent range of drinks including cask ale.

The pub won the Pub Garden of the Year award in recognition of its beautifully kept outdoor space, which includes a pretty, floral garden with picnic seating.

The Night of Excellence Awards celebrate the success of great licensees and the businesses they run in partnership with Greene King Pub Partners. They comprise of 14 awards ranging from Community Pub of the Year to Entertainment Pub of the Year, which are all sponsored by key suppliers to the pub sector and well-known brands such as Molson Coors, Coca-Cola and Bacardi.

This year, the awards were held at a grand ceremony and dinner hosted at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, for the second year in a row.

The awards event was attended by over 140 licensees from across the country who work with Greene King Pub Partners as well as representatives from the hospitality and pub sector including trade bodies, business leaders and more.

Mark Annear, Licensee of The Cott Inn, said: "I am lost for words. To win Pub of the Year at the Night of Excellence Awards is amazing!

“Winning Pub Garden of the Year is also incredible too – we take so much pride in our outside space so it’s great to get that recognition.

“I’d like to dedicate both these awards to my brilliant team and customers. These awards wouldn’t be possible without you.

“I’d also like to thank Sim Baker from Greene King and the wider Greene King team who’ve supported me and The Cott Inn throughout this journey.”

Sim Baker, Business Development Manager for Greene King Pub Partners, said:

“Congratulations to Mark and the team at The Cott Inn for winning Pub of the Year! Personally, I cannot think of a more worthy winner for this award. Everything about The Cott Inn is exceptional and working with Mark and the team is a pleasure.”