Village pub with 'honest food and no televised football' named Britain's best boozer

A ‘hidden gem’ village pub which prides itself on ‘honest food and not showing televised football’ has been named the best in the UK.

The Swan with Two Necks in Pendleton beat more than 57,000 other entries to be crowned Camra's national pub of the year.

The real ale campaign group said it was a 'wonderfully welcoming' pub in a quintessentially British setting.

Landlord Steve Dilworth has run the pub for 27 years, helped by his wife Christine and two sons.

'We are the heart and soul of the village,' he told the Press Association. 'We have a real passion for what we do and we like to look after people. We serve good, honest food, cask ale and cider - and we don't show football on TV.

'This is a great boost for our community. The village has a church and our pub, which we think is a hidden gem.'

The village post office closed years ago, with its services moving to the pub for a while.

Camra's pubs director Julian Hough said: 'The Swan with Two Necks really is the best of the best, having beaten rival pubs at every step, in a process which starts at a local level and takes a full 12 months to complete.

'It is a wonderfully welcoming pub that serves a fantastic pint, and is popular with regulars and visiting tourists alike, in a quintessentially British, rural setting.'

Camra's Good Beer Guide says: 'The home-made food here comes in portions ideal for hungry walker.

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There is outdoor seating in the garden and in front of the pub, looking out onto a small stream running through the beautifully kept village.

'Cosy open fires blaze in winter months.'

Beers on offer include Golden Pippin by Copper Dragon, and guest ales from micro-breweries such as Phoenix, Dark Star and Salamander.

It is the second consecutive year that a pub in Lancashire has won the accolade, following last year's success by The Baum in Rochdale.