After what has felt like a very long winter, we were thrilled when some brilliant news landed in our inbox just before the Easter weekend. The Driftwood Spars has been named ‘Best Pub in Cornwall’ in the county round of the National Pub & Bar Awards, 2023!

We are over the moon to receive this level of recognition, especially against such tough competition. Cornwall is filled with great pubs serving some of the best food and drink in the country, as well as offering legendary Cornish hospitality of course. However, resilience and sustainability are a huge focus for us here at The Driftwood, and we can’t help feeling that’s what stood out in the eyes of the judges.

We are one of 94 County Winners in this first round of the awards, which aim to highlight the positive and inspiring work being carried out across the UK’s hospitality industry.

As Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub and Bar magazine, which runs the awards, said: “With outrageous energy costs, recruitment shortages and a punishing taxation system, these businesses are once again facing tough times. Now, more than ever, it’s vital that people support their local pubs and bars.” We couldn’t agree more!

The grand final awards ceremony takes place in London on 28th June. There, the County Winners will discover which pubs will be taking home a Regional title, as well as which site is to be named the UK’s best, leaving with the overall National Pub & Bar of the Year accolade.

Landlady Louise Treseder shared her thoughts on the exciting news: “The whole team has been given a boost by this wonderful achievement, and I’m so proud of them for all their hard work. It goes without saying that it has been a difficult few years, but having a really clear vision has helped us stay on track.”

She elaborated: “We believe that a pub should be at the heart of the community, welcoming all, providing jobs for local people and choosing local suppliers, serving honest and enjoyable food and drink, hosting great events which bring people together, and doing so with minimal environmental impact. Running a business like this is about so much more than just profit. It’s challenging but very rewarding, especially when we get national recognition like this.”

Keep your fingers crossed for Lou and the team on 28th June!