A seaside pub run by independent brewery Palmers has been named VisitEngland’s tourism pub of the year.
The Anchor, in Seatown, West Dorset, owned by Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) member Palmers, took home the top spot in the pub category of the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
SIBA managing director, Mike Benner, said: “SIBA would like to congratulate The Anchor and its owners Palmers Brewery on winning this prestigious tourism award.
“A traditional English pub is still top of tourists’ must-visit list and where could be better than The Anchor, which is still going strong after 160 years of serving fantastic British-brewed beer.”
The Anchor, which serves a full range of beers from Palmers, edged out The Howard Arms in the West Midlands and The Tankerville Arms in the North East, who were named runners-up.
The British Beer and Pub Association has also congratulated the pub. Chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, said: “Beer and pubs are vital to tourism in the UK, and tourists make around 600 million visits to pubs each year. Pubs are a beacon of hospitality, and are constantly evolving their food and drink options, so it’s no wonder that, when visiting the UK, tourists place visiting a pub as third on their list of things they would most like to do.”
