Each of the finalist in the Standard's Pub of the Year competition is being profiled as the deadline for nominations gets closer, this time around the spotlight is on the Bakers Arms in Someford Keynes.

THE Bakers Arms is a 17th Century family-run pub is a popular meeting space for those that live in the village and those on their holidays, which specialises in food with a South East Asian twist.

Landlord James Ewen and his girlfriend Tina Woodward, who is the bar manager at the pub, spent eight and a half months in South East Asia last year.

And James, who is also a chef, brought back with him a wealth of ideas for curries to incorporate in the pubs menu.

James said that the curries, which are served mainly on Tuesday nights have proved to be a real big hit with customers and encouraged many to keep on coming through the door.

“It got to a point wherever we went (in South East Asia) I would have a massaman (curry). I would compare them to every place so when we got back here and make them when we got back here we could make a authentic massaman.

The pub also offers a selection of other curries from around the world, and fish dishes that have been masterminded by the pub’s chef Simon Legg.

“Not a lot of people in the area have a full special fish board,” James said.

“He (Simon) has given us that push forward. He is very good at cooking fish. We would like to incorporate more of his ideas into the menu.”

Typically those who visit the pub are from Somerford Keynes area and those on their holidays who are staying at the Lower Mill Estate holiday home complex in the Cotswold Water Park.

Tina said the pub is a place which is regarded as an important meeting place for the community and for those on their holidays.

“We see people from Lower Mill Estate five, six, seven times a year. It is nice that we have locals from all over the country,” she said.

“It is an important place where people can come together.”

As well as the food the pub offers a selection of real ales and it has a large beer garden which is popular in the summer.

Tina said that the pub should win the competition because they are traditional country pub while offering a range of high standard food dishes that are locally sourced and home made.

She said: “It makes a difference when you know it is not a microwave meal.

“Too many pubs try and become restaurants but we try to stay as a country pub.

“What we do we do to a very high standard even though it is a country pub.”

To vote for one of the shortlisted pubs, complete the coupon in this week's Standard and send it to Pub of the Year Competition, Wilts & Glos Standard, 74 Dyer Street, Cirencester, GL7 2PW.

You can only vote by using the coupon. Votes have to be in by Thursday, October 1, and you can vote as many times as you like.