A TRADITIONAL pub in West Oxfordshire went head-to-head with establishments across the country at an award ceremony in London.

The team behind The Hare, in Milton-under-Wychwood, were due to attend the BAFTA auditorium in Piccadilly, London, for the National Pub & Bar Awards last night.

Last month the pub was named the best in the county, giving it the opportunity to be named the best nationally at the prestigious event.

It was not only the national prize that was up for grabs. Fifteen regional winners were also due to be announced.

The Hare only reopened in 2016 after being derelict for six years but its village setting, mix of food and drink and Friday 5pm champagne happy hour has made it popular.

Tristan O’Hana, editor of the Pub & Bar Magazine, which runs the awards, said: “The sole purpose of the awards is to tell as many people as possible about the incredible businesses that these county winners are running.”

Speaking about last month’s county winners, Mr O’Hana said: “With 94 triumphant pubs on the winners list, chances are that every person in the UK will have an award-winning pub near them.

“Go out there and see these places for yourselves.”

To see whether The Hare was lucky at last night’s National Pub & Bar Awards go to oxfordmail.co.uk