Scotland's 'best pub' crowned ahead of winter at prestigious VisitScotland awards

Scotland's "best pub" has been crowned at a prestigious award ceremony.

Last week, VisitScotland held the final of its Scottish Thistle Awards. The annual awards celebrate the very best of the tourism and events industry across the country.

Among the winners was The Cross Keys Inn in the picturesque Scottish Borders village of Ettrickbridge, which won the Best Bar or Pub prize. The inn is a newly refurbished traditional hotel and restaurant that features a pub stocked with local brews.

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The Cross Keys Inn offers a variety of drinks from breweries and distilleries all over Scotland. It includes cask lines from Tempest, Born Brewery, Stow Brewery, and more.

The business, which reopened in February last year following a major investment, previously won the Best Bar or Pub award at the 2023 Scottish Thistle Awards. It was praised by VisitScotland for its "welcoming accommodation and fine range of drinks led by local beers and ales".

A spokesperson for The Cross Keys Inn commented: "We’re absolutely blown away to have won this award for the second year running! It’s wonderful to be recognised and rewarded for the huge effort our team makes every day to raise the bar in Scottish hospitality.

"Thank you to everyone who has played their part in putting the Cross Keys Inn right back where it belongs at the heart of our local community."

Elsewhere, a number of other Scottish businesses were awarded at the Scottish Thistle Awards. Among the winners were Glenegedale House in Islay and The Globe Inn in Dumfries & Galloway, which won the Best B&B or Guest House Experience and Best Eating Experience awards respectively.

Chair of the Scottish Thistle Awards Industry Panel Steven Walker said: "Congratulations to all of our winners on being crowned winners at this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards national final. This is a remarkable achievement and shines a spotlight on the excellent tourism offerings available across Scotland.

"Earning recognition as one of the best in the country is a fantastic accomplishment. It not only shines a spotlight on our region but also underscores the positive impact our tourism and events industry has on Scotland as a whole.

"Winning a Scottish Thistle Award means joining a prestigious roll of honour, placing these winners among the country’s finest and opening doors to new opportunities."

More information about the full list of winners at the Scottish Thistle Awards can be found on the VisitScotland website.

Scottish Thistle Awards 2024 winners

• Rising Star Award — Hannah Cochrane, SEC

• Innovation in Tourism — Loch Ness Hub & Travel, Inverness

• Best Self-Catering or Unique Stay — Kabn, Loch Fyne

• Best Hotel Experience — Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa, Dundee

• Best B&B or Guest House Experience — Glenegedale House, Islay

• Best Bar or Pub — The Cross Keys Inn, Ettrickbridge

• Best Eating Experience — The Globe Inn, Dumfries & Galloway

• Tourism Individual of the Year — Russell Fraser, Loch Ness Hub & Travel

• Best Visitor Attraction — The Scotch Whisky Experience, Edinburgh

• Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience — Nevis Range, Fort William

• Climate Action Award — Glasgow Science Centre

• Celebrating Thriving Communities — Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO, Kilmarnock

• Inclusive Tourism Award — Trimontium Museum, Melrose

• Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival — Wigtown Book Festival

• Outstanding Sporting Event — World Athletics Indoor Championships

• Best Business Event — Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions Annual Conference 2023 at the EICC, Edinburgh

• Tourism and Hospitality Employer of the Year — Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, Edinburgh

• Best Luxury Experience — Trump Turnberry, Girvan

• Silver Thistle — Kat Brogan, Mercat Tours

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