Staff at a pub outside Whitchurch are celebrating after they were named the best new pub of 2019 by a national guide.

The Good Pub Guide chose The Swan at Marbury as the 'Best New Pub of the Year 2019', with a second award coming from South Cheshire Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) with the Summer Pub of the Season 2019 award.

The awards come just 18 months since the 1700s dated inn was resurrected by Pubs Ltd and partner Mark Sumner – brought up at the Swan by his licensee parents George and Ann – welcomed the award.

He said: “The awards are a terrific tribute to the professionalism of the young team.

“They can all be very proud of this early recognition in a new lease of life for a much loved village inn which, we think, is well worth finding.

"Marbury has a 15th century church overlooking the scenic meres and is on the Cheshire Cycleway route and close to the Shropshire Union Canal. There are excellent walks around the area, which you can start from the pub, and we have our own walks led by the staff.”

Mark, who also runs the Black Bear, added: “I've known the Swan for many years and always liked it and Marbury is a truly beautiful spot.

"I've known the Good Pub Guide from the 1980s and always been a big fan, so I am honoured to find ourselves being given this award.

"And the excellent recognition from Camra is also a very welcome tribute to the team.”

The Good Pub Guide describes the Swan as a: ‘Carefully renovated village pub with attractive open-plan rooms, a thoughtful choice of drinks and food served by well-trained staff and seats on large terrace. Beautifully refurbished using natural and reclaimed materials … a long bar made from reclaimed school chemistry lab counters. It's all gently civilised, informal and chatty.”

The review also applauds the pub décor of wood and tiled floors, colourful rugs, wood- burning stoves, photographs, prints and book shelves. Of the Swan’s food it says: "Enterprising modern food… includes‘ potted pork with chutney, curried mussels with toasted beer bread, goat’s cheese and beetroot salad, whole plaice with samphire and mussel butter.

“Friendly, helpful staff’ are praised, along with the selection of five hand pulled real ales and ‘a dozen good wines by the glass, plus wine on tap that they import from France’."