Here's the next pub shortlisted for The Standard's top prize

The incredible response is in addition to the 400 nominations that were received from the paper’s readers for the first round of the competition - where The Standard asked readers to tell us why they loved their local.

Competition has been fierce, and it is down to the number of wonderful pubs that can be founded nestled in the Cotswolds and North Wiltshire.

A full list of the shortlisted pubs appear at the bottom of this article, along with details of how to vote, and over the next six weeks we’ll be looking at each pub in detail.

This week we visit The Cat and Custard Pot in Shipton Moyne.

Nestled right in the heart of the pretty little honey-stone village of Shipton Moyne, just outside Tetbury, is the unusually named Cat and Custard Pot.

Just five years ago the pub was acquired by four local families who wanted to ensure that the down-to-earth pub remained the assuming, traditional inn that sits proudly on the village’s main street.

And it would appear that the pub’s gentle make-over and subtle upgrades - weary visitors can now stay overnight - have prove very popular, as the local has been shortlisted as one of six possible winners of this year’s pub of the year competition.

Top of the reasons for the dozens of nominations for the pretty little pub is it’s fantastic food.

It’s traditional, good old-fashioned pub food one reader described a Sunday lunch that they had enjoyed in the little restaurant as ‘the best they had ever had’.

“We have had so many really delicious Sunday lunches at the Cat and custard Pot,” the reader said in their nomination.

“The roasts are really good, and the service is faultless - I’d even go as far as to say that one lunch we enjoyed their was the best we’ve ever had!”

And it’s not just the food that get’s the big thumbs up for customers, others said that the pub was a ‘rare gem’, after the visit following a long walk locally.

“We popped in after a long walk, and were met with such a warm welcome,” one happy customer told the paper.

“The service was so welcoming and helpful!”

And the name? It’s thought that the name Cat and Custard Pot refers to an incident in the Victorian hunting novel Handley Cross by R S Surtees - and believe it or not it’s not the only pub to be called it in the country.

If you would like to vote for The Cat and Custard Pot Inn, in Shipton Moyne, or any of the other five pubs that have been nominated then you can do so by visiting The Standard website.

Voting instructions can be found in full there but the following rules do apply:

• Only one vote will be accepted per email address
• Readers can only vote for the six shortlisted pubs
• Voting will remain open until midnight Sunday, March 24 - all votes received after that time will not be accepted
• All six runners up will receive certificates.
• Landlords, managers and staff are also free to vote for their own pubs.

So if you know of a pub that deserves the coveted Wilts and Glos Standard Pub of the Year 2019 award to hang pride of place on the wall then get your vote in quick - we want to hear from the experts - our readers.

The pub with the most votes will be crowned Pub of the Year at the end of March, and be presented with our coveted trophy and certificate, as well as a special prize.

What are you waiting for? Make sure that your favourite pub is recognised as Pub of the Year 2019.

Shortlist for pub of the year:

The Cat & Custard Pot, Shipton Moyne

The Daneway, Sapperton

The Greyhound, Siddington

The Golden Farm, Cirencester

The Golden Cross Inn, Cirencester

The Thames Head, Tetbury Road, Cirencester

What are you waiting for? Make sure that your favourite pub is recognised as Pub of the Year 2019.

Let us know who you think should win NOW via this link