A pub has officially been named as the best in Kent.

The Tiger Inn in Stowting, between Folkestone and Ashford, beat out all other pubs in the county and is now in the running for a top UK award.

The Pub and Bar Awards 2022 have listed the Stowting pub as one of 94 county winners across the UK, with eight individual businesses selected in the South East.

It comes just over a year after the pub came under the ownership of Will and Nadine Sheldon, who also run the Marquis of Granby in Alkham with their Contemporary Pubs Ltd business.

The family-run company has leased and managed the business since its purchase by the Marquis Hotel Group in March of last year.

Following a six-figure refurbishment, it reopened in June under Mr and Mrs Sheldon's care and taking just 10 months to land the prestigious county award.

After being officially crowned at a red carpet celebration in London in June, the Tiger team will then wait to hear if they have also been crowned one of 15 regional winners.

In doing so, it will be facing off against The Angel Inn in Petworth, East Sussex, and Cricketers on the Green in Pirbright, Surrey, among others.

The remaining pubs will then hear their fate as the overall National Pub & Bar of the Year is crowned.

Mr Sheldon said that the team was "delighted" to win the award so soon after reopening.

""Everything has been so busy that after applying for the awards we had almost forgotten about them until the news came through that we had won," he said.

"It's absolutely fantastic for us and the team – we know we have a great product here and a fantastic team, so we're delighted and can't wait to see how we do on a regional and national scale!"

Tristan O'Hana, Editor of the Pub and Bar magazine, which hosts the event, said: “Just from being out in these venues, you can see how much pubs and bars mean to people across the UK.

"“With visitor numbers increasing, it’s more important than ever for operators to deliver a standout service during every visit – no matter the business in question. "These 94 County Winners are wonderful examples of the brilliance of today’s modern on-trade. If you live near one of these sites, make sure you pay them a visit!”