A PUB owner has struck lucky and collected three awards for his real-ale premises.
Two pubs owned by Ralph Wilkinson have been given awards by the Darlington branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).
The Crown Inn, at Manfield, near Darlington, has been named Country Pub of the Year, while Twenty-2 in Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, was named Town Pub of the Year and overall Pub of the Year.
The Crown Inn, run by Peter and Karen Hynes, offers four hand-pulled real ales from small brewers in the region and is set to hold its first beer festival at the end of the month.
Peter Fenwick, of Camra, said: "The Crown has made a big impression on everyone who has visited it recently, not least local members of Camra.
"In offering excellent craft-brewed beers in an attractive countryside setting, it follows in the best traditions of the English country pub."
Voting for the awards was carried out by 200 Darlington Camra members and The Crown Inn beat 100 different rural pubs to gain its title.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article