14-05-2025
Country pub at 'heart of community' scoops award after mystery nomination
A pub near Lancaster has secured a top award - and the pub's team have no idea who nominated them.
The Fleece Inn, at Dolphinholme, has won The Countryside Alliance Best Pub Award for the North of England.
But neither director Simeon, nor any member of his 25-strong team, knows who nominated the pub for the award.
Simeon said: "To this day, we still don't know who nominated us.
"We have very loyal customers - some come in every day.
"We also have some customers who travel every Sunday from Pendle to eat with us. Our staff are similarly loyal.
"All are from the local area and most have remained with us since we opened ten years ago, when my family took over and transformed the establishment."
As well as being a pub, the Fleece Inn also provides nine rooms, plus one self-contained apartment and, unusually, the village shop.
Simeon explained: "We're not just a pub, we are at the heart of the community, and our staff and customers have become great friends.
"It was important we provided essential services to residents, so we opened the village shop where they can buy local produce, a newspaper, and other items.
"Our weekly quiz night and warm and friendly bar area often provide social interaction and comfort for those who may be more socially isolated.
"We also do what we can to limit our carbon footprint for the area in which we're based.
"We have electric car charging points, and the pub's heating and hot water is provided through a biomass boiler.
"We're proud to be part of the Forest of Bowland Sustainable Tourism Network, and one of the locals keeps beehives on our paddock behind the pub.
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"Of course, we look to the county for our food and drink.
"This includes Dewlay cheeses, and wine from D Byrne in Clitheroe, while our house beer is brewed five miles away, and our meat is from Honeywells in Woodplumpton."
The Fleece Inn now has a chance to win the national title at a Countryside Alliance Awards ceremony at the House of Lords in June.
