WE'RE highlighting the shortlisted pubs in our competition in the News & Star. Each of the establishments will be featured over the following issues.

Graham Arms Inn has been nominated by News & Star readers as one of the ten finalists in its 'Best Pub 2024' award.

The pub, which is located on Longtown's English Street, is owned by Vanessa Luckley, who took over at the Inn in November 2023.

After being informed that Graham Arms Inn has been nominated as a finalist in the News & Star's 'Best Pub 2024' award, Vanessa was on hand to express her delight. 

She said: "We are delighted, we have got great customers.

"It means a lot to us, we love the community, we love the hotel, and my daughter has worked here for the last five years.

"We love everyone who works here, all the customers and we are local people ourselves so it is nice to keep it all local."

Vanessa also highlighted the tight-knit community that has been built around the Graham Arms Inn and how the Inn under her stewardship priorities interaction with the Longtown locals.

She said: "It's so friendly, it's in the heart of the town so it is the hub of the community.

"Everyone who comes is part of the big family that we have here and everybody knows everybody and we know everybody, it is just such a nice, friendly place to be.

"Our hospitality is all about interaction will people and that is the plus side of the job, you get to see everybody have a good craic about all types of things and put the world to rights.

Finally, Vanessa outlined how important the local community are to the Inn, with the pub relying on their support and thanking its regulars for their continuing support.

"The community is really supportive of all the local businesses in Longtown and we also all try to support local whenever we can.

"We do rely a lot, especially in the winter months, on our regulars, they are our bread and butter and they are what gives us going."