A COUNTRY pub is in the running to be named the 'best'.

Local pub, The Horse and Groom, in Woodgreen is a finalist in the Great British Pub Awards 2024 for the Best Country Pub. 

Located in the New Forest with forest walks only a stone’s throw away, the pub is open every day of the week and is available for lunch, dinner, and drinks in the restaurant, bar, pub garden with a ‘Filly Bar’, or the garden room.

The pub was taken over in summer 2023 by Mark and Nicole Flanigan who have since made a few changes to it, including a change in menu and “magic touches” to make the pub more accessible and “keep the spirit of the pub alive”.

The Horse and Groom prides itself on being an authentic and traditional country pub that puts customer experience as its top priority. It contributes to the local community, supporting schools, charities and breweries, and hosting local clubs, such as the book club. 

(Image: Horse and Groom)

The pub has undergone several rounds of judging, including a Q&A section, photo submissions, a surprise visit from the judges, and interviews from the panel. 

The Horse and Groom’s competition for this award include the Cross Keys Inn in Ettrickbridge, The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman’s Rest in Brampton, The Snooty Fox in Grafton Underwood, The Swan at Marbury in Chester, and The Tollemache Arms in Harrington. 

This award was previously won by The Cholmondeley Arms in Cheshire in 2023, who also won the Overall Great British Pub of the Year Award, and by The Three Hills in Bartlow in 2022. 

The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday September 17 in Manchester.