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

The Ship Hotel has been nominated by News & Star readers as one of the ten finalists in its 'Best Pub 2024' award.

The pub, which is located in Allonby, is managed by former teaching assistant Jane Stagg, who began her role in October 2023.

After being informed that The Ship Hotel has been nominated as a finalist in the News & Star's 'Best Pub 2024' award, Jane was on hand to express her delight. 

She said: "I am absolutely over the moon.

"I was a teaching assistant at the beginning but I have left my teaching now to come here full-time.

"They didn't really have anyone running it when I took over and I just live around the corner so I thought I would give it a go and it has gone from there.

"It's so reassuring to hear that people have nominated us."

For Jane, The Ship Hotel has plenty to offer any local pub goer, from its revamped menu to wide selection of local ales.

She said: "I think it is because we try to cater for everyone. 

"We have got new menus in for last December and we have got a fantastic kitchen which produces homemade meals.

"We are opposite the play park so we are in prime position, we have a lot of local ales on, and we put on a lot of entertainment on.

"We are quite versatile in what we have here at The Ship Hotel."

Jane also highlighted the important role that the community plays in supporting the Ship Hotel.

She said: "We have got a great bunch of local people who always support us all the way through the year and into the winter when we really need them. 

"We hold the local quiz team every Thursday and we have a Ukelele group who practice in out dining room every Wednesday so it is very community-based and we depend on that to get us through."