A RURAL Worcestershire pub at the heart of its local community has gained national recognition as Britain’s Best Sporting Pub.

The Talbot at Knightwick, on the banks of the River Teme in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside, scooped the Midland’s award and the overall national award in the competition run by the Countryside Alliance and Country Life Magazine.

The pub was nominated by a customer and the competition organisers then sent out forms to the Talbot which its customers could complete – saying why they like it. This was followed by an unannounced visit by the judges who booked a table in the restaurant.

According to the organisers, this competition aimed to celebrate traditional pubs and hotels which have a long history of support for country sports whether they host a hunt meet, a shoot lunch or welcome fishermen.

Support for the local community was a driving factor, as was a warm welcome available for sportsmen and women - and working dogs. The judges were looking for a pub offering a warm welcome to people after a day in the field, which is a well-established and comforting part of Britain’s rural heritage.

The Talbot’s owner Annie Clift said: “It is the first time we have been involved with this competition and I think we were all a bit speechless when we heard we had won. Although you enter these things, you always think you are going to be up against really good competition.

“It was a really nice surprise. We were quite speechless about it. The judges booked a table with us and it was when we had our beer festival. We had no idea it was them.”

Two hunts meet at the Talbot at Knightwick each year, it has fishing rights on the River Teme and customers can pay to fish on the river, a couple of the local shoots book in for breakfast at the pub and it also acts as a hub for the local community by regularly holding the Teme Valley Market, selling newspapers and staging a beer festival.

Game is also prominent on the menu all the year round including rabbit, pigeon and venison but Annie said many people just come for the homely atmosphere. “Our customers don’t mind that the chairs don’t match. They can come in wearing their wellies and they are welcomed.”

The pub is also known to use local suppliers, including a large number of local people with surplus produce from their gardens.