STAFF at the Evesham Journal's Pub of the Year have been celebrating.

The Pub of the Year trophy was presented to the Queen Elizabeth Inn earlier this week, for it to go on display.

The trophy, which is inscribed with the words 'Evesham Journal Pub of the Year 2018, Queen Elizabeth Inn', was presented to the pub after it received the most votes from readers during our seven week competition.

The win marks a milestone moment for the pub having had a chequered history including in recent years being closed.

A consortium of 26 local villagers took on a new lease embarking on an extensive refurbishment programme, reopening the pub in December 2014.

There were many comments from readers praising the Elmley Castle watering hole on the nominations slips that flooded into the Evesham Journal's office.

Among the reasons for nomination, readers said the pub was a "quaint English pub steeped in history", and a "cute little pub".

Another reader said it was "a good meeting place and the food is good too" while another wrote it was "run by the village and a real community hub for get-togethers".

And one reader said on their slip: "It was saved from closing by the villagers - a very good local with a good choice of drinks and good food, at the right price".

As part of the prize Neil Lavender-Jones, from the pub, also receives an invite to the Houses of Parliament by the town's MP Nigel Huddleston.

The Fish and Anchor was the runner up in the competition, while third went to the Old Swanne Inne in High Street.

Michael Purton, Evesham Journal editor, said: "Congratulations to everyone at the Queen Elizabeth."