The Blue Anchor in Crowborough was named Pub of the Year in the Beautiful South Tourism Awards on April 25.
An independent panel from industry leaders, past winners and experts judged pubs across the South East on factors ranging from appearance and service to its food, online customer reviews, and the business’s use of social media to its own offering as well as the area in which the pub is based.
The licensee of the pub, located on Beacon Road, Amy Glenie said it was totally unexpected to have received the honour for a second year.
“It is amazing and just so unexpected – especially because it is the second year in a row. It was just such a big surprise.”
She added: “With everything that has been going on, it’s so good for the team to be rewarded like this. It brings everybody together after a couple of really tough years.”
Ms Glenie attributed the pub’s success to both supportive customers and her team – including her mother Nicola, who is a chef.
She said: “My mum helped me so much when I started out, helping in the kitchen, so it felt fitting she should come (to the ceremony). It was a lot of work to get us to where we are, but it was a team effort and now I have a brilliant and stable team in place.”
The business has already put up its trophy in the entrance, next to last year’s award, so both are visible to customers as they arrive.
The Blue Anchor is a managed pub for brewer Shepherd Neame, which has been based in Faversham, Kent for over 300 years.
