THE Hood Arms at Kilve, Somerset has won bronze in the pub of the year category at this year’s Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards.

It was the pub’s first accolade since being taken over and renovated in 2017 and it was up against strong competition from all over the region.

The BBS Tourism Awards judge said the Hood Arms was “a fabulously nice surprise”.

“A very warm welcome and a roaring fire to greet us instantly captured me. A very well priced menu clearly using quality ingredients and home made items.

“This pub has clearly got off to a flying start in its first year in business and has a first class chef in the kitchen.

“Beautifully decorated and inviting, it’s wonderful that the owners purchased this redundant pub and brought it back to life with such style for the benefit of the village and passing tourists.”

The Hood Arms only re-opened two years ago after closing for the first time in over 400 years.

Co-owner Paul Spence congratulated the other finalists but he was also delighted that the Hood Arms was acknowledged as one of the top three pubs in the whole of Bath, Bristol and Somerset.

“We are so proud to be part of what is best about Somerset, which is such a wonderful gateway to Devon and Cornwall and the rest of the South West, a flagship area of the English Tourism industry,” Paul added.