You’ve chosen best pub of the year

Anneke Blackledge, Adele Hearne, Luke Stewart and Paul Le Huray of Torbay Taxis THE votes are in and have been counted and you have chosen the winner for South Devon’s Pub of the Year 2018.

The Herald Express competition, sponsored by Torbay Taxis, has been won by The Blue Anchor.

The pub, on Teign Street in Teignmouth, has been a well-know watering hole in the town for years, and has now been voted by you as the best pub in South Devon.

Adele Hearne, 38, who runs The Blue Anchor alongside her partner Luke, said they never expected to be nominated let alone win the competition.

“I just can’t believe it, it was such a nice surprise to find out we had won,” she said.

“Myself and Luke want to thank whoever nominated us and to those who voted for us to win, it means so much to us.”

The couple live in Teignmouth and have ran the pub for the past four years.

Adele added: “I think we are renowned for our real ales but we also serve over 200 different types of spirit.

“We are so lucky to have lovely locals that come in and we are so grateful to them for supporting us over the years. There were so many pubs that were nominated, we never in a million years thought we would come first.”

Director of Torbay Taxis Paul Le Huray added: “We are delighted to extend our sponsorship into another year.

“I am really pleased to see that more than 150 pubs had been nominated and that so many pubs were on board.

“The competition seems to be growing year on year with people passionate about casting their vote for their favourite local.

“Anything that can strengthen relationships between pubs and the local community we are thrilled to be part of.

“This year has been brilliant and it seems the competition has become even more popular. It is nice that a pub that hasn’t be nominated before won and I am thrilled for them.

“The more publicity that this can give to local businesses the better.”

Picture: ANDY STYLES