THE Royal Hotel, Sheerness, has been crowned Sheppey Pub of the Year 2008.

Landlord Dave Ingram received the trophy from sponsor West Parker, of WK Shoe Repairs, last week. The Royal got 195 of the total 625 votes received.

The Red Lion, Blue Town, was second and The Wheatsheaf, Eastchurch, was third.

The vote followed a year-long quest by the Pub Inspector to visit each of the Island’s 40 pubs.

From these, he chose 15 'finalists’ with readers encouraged to vote for their favourite.

Dave says he was delighted to have won the trophy and it will be displayed with pride in the bar.

Although he was “hopeful” he would be the winner, he says he didn’t count his chickens.

Editor Matt Ramsden said: “What a fantastic success the Pub Inspector and Pub of the Year event has been. Congratulations to everyone concerned – especially Dave and his team at the Royal.”

Dave wasn’t the only person celebrating. Mother-of-one Carlie Hodge, 25, Harris Road, Sheerness, voted for the Royal and was picked out of the hat as the winner of a free meal for two there.

She said: “It’s just much better than other pubs anywhere else. It’s clean and has got a great atmosphere - really relaxed.”

For more on the Royal's win, see this coming week's Times Guardian