Freemasons voted amongst elite gastropubs

Freemasons at Wiswell, Lancashire, has been voted in the top 15 gastropubs in the UK by food industry experts.

Chef-patron Steven Smith described the listing in the Old Speckled Hen Top 50 Gastropubs 2010 awards, run by the Morning Advertiser newspaper, as ‘an amazing achievement’ for the restaurant’s first year.

An industry poll of more than 700 food writers, celebrity and top hospitality industry chefs, pub guide editors, industry chiefs and food operators voted for their favourite establishments in a rigorous judging process.

Steven, who attended the ceremony in Berkshire, said: “This is an amazement achievement considering we have only been operating for just over a year. Our listing in 15th place was higher than a number of well-respected and award-winning establishments and the fact that this was decided by industry experts makes it all the more rewarding. This firmly cements our place on the culinary map and now our challenge is to take Freemasons to the next level and we have a number of exciting developments in hand for the coming year.”

The Star Inn at Harome, North Yorkshire, took top spot while The Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, was runner up and the Hardwick in Abergavenny, South Wales, third.