REGULARS celebrated in time-honoured fashion after their local officially became one of the best in Britain.

The Grade II-listed Phoenix in George Street, York, won top accolade in the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) Pub Design Awards.

The pub, which was built in the 1830s by a Tadcaster firm but is now owned by the Unique Pub Company, was the runaway winner in the Camra/English Heritage conservation category.

The owners, together with designer Richard Wellock, have carried out a sensitive and careful refurbishment of the pub, using both its history and the needs of modern customers as their guide.

The local authority, English Heritage and the Victorian Society, were consulted before the scheme got under way.

The chairman of the judging panel, Dr Steve Parissien, said: "Time-honoured qualities have not been sacrificed in the pursuit of short-term re-branding."

He went on: "The work done highlights the many surviving historic elements of this pub in an unassuming and unpretentious way."

He said the exterior had been approached with commendable restraint, with the paintwork being particularly successful, while indoors there was much to commend the whole approach of the refurbishment. He commended the Phoenix as a fine example to pub owners and added: "Pub traditions can be updated and modernised without loss of place, of atmosphere, or of drinkers."