Pubs across Yorkshire are hoping to pull in votes as well as pints as the search begins to find Yorkshire’s favourite pub.
The official tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire is giving the public the chance to vote for their favourite Yorkshire local.
Whether it’s a traditional country pub, a historic tavern or a city centre pub – the tourism agency wants to know which one is the county’s favourite.
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “It could be a warm welcome, great ale or historic surroundings – whatever makes your local your favourite, we want you to vote. We can be rightly proud of the fabulous pubs we have across Yorkshire and this is a celebration of that.”
Yorkshire landlord Michael Ibbotson, recently voted the UK’s Publican of the Year 2011, said: “Pubs have had a tough time of late, but we have a real abundance of quality establishments providing a quality service – and warm welcome – so this will help raise their profile and give people the chance to support their local.”
The public can vote at www.yorkshire.com/pub and say in 20 words why their nomination is worthy of the title until May 27.
These votes will result in a top 30 list of pubs, which are set to feature in a special Yorkshire Ale Trail, produced by Welcome to Yorkshire.
A panel of judges will then select 10 finalist pubs from this shortlist and the public will have the chance to vote again for an overall winner from June 20 using a simple click voting system.
That winning pub, plus runners up, will be announced at the Great Yorkshire Show – and handed the trophy of “Yorkshire’s Favourite Pub 2011”.
The competition supports responsible drinking.