The Harbour Inn at Axmouth has won 'The Best New Idea' award at their in-house business awards.

This year, the pub won Best New Idea and were runners up for Best Marketing and Best Newcomer at this years annual awards.

In their first year of entering, the Harbour Inn was shortlisted for: Best Marketing, Best Newcomer and for Chicken Shack (their own brand of high welfare, takeaway fried chicken) and Best New Idea.

The thatched inn is part of the Dorset based Hall & Woodhouse estate that comprises over 250 pubs across southern England.

Their annual business awards, held on Thursday night in Blandford Forum, seek to recognise the best operators in the country from that estate of managed houses.

Shaun said: “Our aim from day one has been to do the simple things well – food, drink, takeaways, weddings and functions, all underpinned by excellent hospitality. We want the Harbour to be accessible to everyone and work is already underway to develop our fried chicken in the months ahead with a new bespoke kitchen, service area and professional rebrand. Bring on the summer and let’s get cooking!”

Scott Rhodes-Ward, business development partner for Hall & Woodhouse added: “It’s extremely tough out there for pub landlords at the moment but Shaun is one of our most promising business partners. In just over 17 months, through sheer hard work he has already transformed the business and now, on the back of these awards, has ambitious plans for the future which we wholeheartedly support.”