A PUB has been recognised for its food with a top award.

The Elm Tree Inn in Langton Herring, near Weymouth, has scooped a gold award from Taste of The West 2022.

Focusing on the food and drink industry in the south-west of England, the awards recognise and reward excellence in customer service, the quality of the food and drink offer and the commitment to provenance.

When describing the Elm Tree Inn, judges said: “This was the best food that I have tasted for a long time.

"Ingredients were of the very highest quality and the chef highly skilled, the Portland crab with fennel was exquisite.

"The staff were extremely helpful and friendly. A delightful example of a family run dining pub, expertly prepared, original dishes, celebrating some of the best of locally sourced products.”

The team at the Elm Tree were delighted that their hard work and commitment had been recognised.

They said: “We pride ourselves on using the highest quality local ingredients.

"Our passion for cooking and serving local produce is at the heart of our values and we are proud to emphasise this in our menu which includes local fish, Devon Ruby red beef, Dorset lamb and vegetables from our own farm, as well as our own Dorset cider.

"We have a real passion for food and we are thrilled to receive the Taste of the West Gold Award.”

The Elm Tree Inn has also been shortlisted as one of the very best hospitality establishments in the SouthWest of England for which judging is ongoing and the 2022 champion winners will be announced in September 2022.