The Inn Collection Group is celebrating as three of its establishments have been named the best pubs in their respective counties by trade publication Pub & Bar Magazine.

Cumbria's The Swan, Grasmere is among those recognised, as well as The Bull's Head in Gwynedd, and The Harrogate Inn in North Yorkshire.

The awards, now in its sixth year, celebrate the very best venues, people, and service standards.

This year saw a record number of entries, with the magazine's judges taking into account aspects ranging from excellent service and diverse product range to aesthetically pleasing design and entertainment schedules.

Times and Star: The pub reopened last year after undergoing a refurbishmentThe pub reopened last year after undergoing a refurbishment (Image: The Inn Collection Group)

Each winning pub now stands a chance to become one of the 15 regional winners at the National Pub & Bar Awards in London this June.

The overall national champion will also be announced during a 'glamorous, cinematic-style awards ceremony'.

The Swan has had an impressive year following its successful reopening following a refurbishment in April last year.

Transitioning back to a traditional coaching inn-style venue, The Swan has served more than 41,000 meals and an impressive 14,000 pints of Madri in the past 12 months.

Alongside its trade success, the pub contributes to the local community, donating £4,000 to good causes in the Lakeland village.

General manager Nellie Buxton-Brown said: "It has been quite a week for The Swan, celebrating our first year back and now finding out that we’ve been named the best pub in Cumbria.

"It is quite an accolade to be recognised by Pub & Bar Magazine and we will be proudly wearing our winner's badge and working hard to keep the standards that have seen us get that award."

Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub & Bar Magazine, said: "These pubs represent all that is great about the modern on-trade.

"You can only imagine the fantastic variety of operations we have discovered through the judging process – it’s been an absolute pleasure to investigate just how all of these incredible operators run their businesses.

"What’s great about the awards is that all the attendees of the grand final are already winners – they’re the best in their county.”