A PUB in Wiltshire has been crowned the best venue in the South West.

The Bell & Crown - Zeals in Wiltshire won this accolade at the National Pub & Bar of the Year Awards 2023 ceremony in 30 Euston Square, London last night (June 28).

The awards aim to highlight the positive and inspiring work being carried out across the UK’s hospitality industry.

The Bell & Crown pub sits just off the A303 in the village of Zeals and is a convenient spot for a Sunday roast and a local ale or two after a stroll around the nearby gardens at Stourhead House.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: The Bell & Crown - Zeals pubThe Bell & Crown - Zeals pub (Image: The Bell & Crown - Zeals)

It has six letting rooms and an outside dining area covered by a large stretch tent.

On Tripadvisor, The Bell & Crown has a current rating of 4.5.

One visitor recently posted: "We stayed here for the weekend and were so impressed with the cleanliness and comfort. 

"Also had a delicious evening meal and the breakfast was first class too. 

"Lovely relaxing view from the beer garden. 

"Would highly recommend and visit again if we were going that way."

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Pie at The Bell & Crown - Zeals Pie at The Bell & Crown - Zeals (Image: The Bell & Crown - Zeals)

The Bell & Crown was just one of the 15 pubs and bars across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that scooped up a prestigious regional winner title as part of the 2023 National Pub & Bar Awards.

The Running Horses in Mickleham was named the National Pub & Bar of the Year, after judges commended the venue for its top-quality food and drink, meticulous attention to detail, and first-class hospitality

See the full list of winners below:

The National Pub & Bar Awards 2023 Winners

  •  National Pub & Bar of the Year – The Running Horses, Surrey
  • East Midlands – The Tollemache Arms, Northamptonshire
  • East of England – The Three Hills, Cambridgeshire
  • London – The Barley Mow, Mayfair, Greater London
  • North East – Three Mile, Tyne and Wear
  • North West – The Swan at Marbury, Cheshire
  • Northern Ireland – Hearth, Antrim
  • North West Scotland – Tigh An Truish, Argyll and Bute
  • North East Scotland – The Criterion, Fife
  • South East Scotland – The Scran & Scallie, City of Edinburgh
  • South West Scotland – The Electric Bar, North Lanarkshire
  • South East – The Running Horses, Surrey
  • South West – Bell & Crown, Wiltshire
  • Wales – The Old House 1147, Mid Glamorgan
  • West Midlands – The Red Lion, Long Compton, Warwickshire
  • Yorkshire and the Humber – The Fat Badger Harrogate, North Yorkshire
  • Pub Chef of the Year – Chris Fordham-Smith, The Barley Mow, Mayfair
  • Pub Brand of the Year – The Beech House
  • Bar Brand of the Year – BrewDog Waterloo
  • Heineken UK Sustainable Pub of the Year – The Tollemache Arms, Northamptonshire