A FAMILY-OWNED gastropub is soaring to the top of Cumbria's food scene having just bagged themselves another Rosette award as well as making the shortlist of GQ Magazine's Food and Drinks Awards 2023.
The Dog and Gun Inn, in the heart of Skelton, has received their third Rosette award (February 28) but is no stranger when it comes to plaudits from best in the business, having also recently received a rave review by one of the UK's top food writers, Grace Dent.
Owner and chef Ben Queen-Fryer, who opened the business back in 2017, said he was delighted to be the only Cumbrian pub to have made the shortlist of only five of GQ Magazine's best pubs in the UK.
The awards aren't slowing down in the slightest this week for the Michelin starred pub however, as they were also named seventh best gastropub in the UK by global travel site Big 7 Travel.
Speaking on the success of adding another rosette award, Ben said: "It's just a nice recommendation of what you've been doing, especially from people who eat out as a job.
Absolutely delighted to shortlisted for the @BritishGQ food and drink awards in the best pub category! Thank you everyone who voted for us! @belvederevodka @VeuveClicquot pic.twitter.com/xn4Fepb2dH
— The Dog and Gun (@DogandGunSkeltn) February 26, 2023
"If they're coming and still being impressed by what we're doing, I'm very pleased. It also gives new customers more confidence to come and spend an evening then that's all good by us."
READ MORE: Michelin star The Dog & Gun Skelton gets rave review from Grace Dent
Ben said 'family' drives the business forward and is at the heart of everything he does, much of the reason as to why he feels business has been such a success since taking over 6 years ago.
"We had a simple outlook back in 2017, it was to support the family and to do that I needed customers to come see us and come back. That was and really is the only focus for people to come and see us and when they do come and see us, we get them to come back. It's a simple outlook but there's a lot of work that tries to make it happen.
"The other things that come with the career is lovely to receive but you have to support the family first. It's nice for customers as well, the ones that have supported you for a long time, it's nice for them to see something they've maybe known for a while become actuality," he said.
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