A PUB in Hemingford Grey is celebrating after being crowned the best in the country.

THE Cock pub in Hemingford Grey is crowing after being crowned the best in the country.

The Cock has been named the Good Pub Guide’s Pub of the Year 2013 after getting rave reviews from customers.

The bible for pub-goers across the country said: “The Cock offers the best for all its customers - an outright winner.”

As well as taking the top honour, The Cock was named the best Dining Pub in Cambridgeshire.

The pub, on High Street, is owned by business partners Oliver Thain and Richard Bradley and run by general manager Tim Prior. Will Findlay is the head chef.

Mr Thain said: “We’re well chuffed!

“I think it’s down to a combination of three things: service, consistently good food and the standards of the building. We try very hard and we’re always talking about how we can do things better.”

Mr Thain and Mr Bradley, who bought the pub 11 years ago, now run Cambscuisine – a group of five restaurants and a catering business.

They have transformed The Cock from a village “boozer” to a destination pub that pulls people in from the surrounding area.

An extract from The Good Pub Guide 2013 says of the Huntingdonshire pub: “‘After each visit, we start planning the next one’ one of our readers tells us. This well run, pretty pub is just the sort of place that customers do return to as it manages to appeal to both drinkers and diners. They’ve kept the traditional public bar for drinkers only, with an open wood-burning stove on the raised hearth, four interesting ales on hand pump, 17 wines by the glass and local farm cider. In marked contrast, the stylishly simple, spotless restaurant serves delicious food, using fresh, seasonal produce.”

INFORMATION: The Cock, High Street, Hemingford Grey. Phone 01480 463609 Website: www.thecockhemingford.co.uk