THE best commendations often come from your peers and on that score you'll find The Plough Inn at Far Forest a hard pub and restaurant to beat.
Sited on the A4117 Cleobury Mortimer to Kidderminster road, the Plough Inn has been short-listed for a number of prestigious awards by trade magazine, The Publican, to be presented at London's prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel.
These include Business Person of the Year, Free House of the Year, Customer Service Pub of the Year and Licensee of the Year.
The licensee in question is Adam Giles, who took over the pub four years ago.
The Plough is truly a family pub - not just in terms of the custom it attracts but also in ownership.
Adam's mum and dad, Mark and Louise Giles, have run a number of pubs in Worcestershire for 35 years and the surrounding area including The Punch Bowl in Bridgnorth and the Queens Head in Bromsgrove.
The award ceremony is on March 21 and Adam is hoping it will be third time lucky - he has been short-listed for similar awards in the past two years.
"It is a marvellous accolade to be nominated in four different categories. No other pub has so many nominations so it is fingers crossed. If we win, it will be for the whole family not just myself."
Adam's success isn't a secret - it is a tried and trusted method which the Giles dynasty have employed elsewhere.
"We provide good value for money food for all the family and good quality beer in pleasant surroundings."
The Plough Inn currently has a winter warmer menu and offers a three course meal for £13.99 including the ever-popular carvery.
"We even brand ourselves as 'England's number one carvery'," said Adam.
On Sundays, which are usually busy, The Plough Inn offers six meats - beef, lamb, pork, turkey, venison and ham, with a choice of more than ten vegetables.
Last year, The Plough Inn built a £120,000 extension, which has added another 26 tables to the 160-seater restaurant.
It is a multi-functional area - Adam is keen to encourage local firms to stage business conferences and business breakfast meetings.
"It is a private area with beautiful views - somewhere a bit different to host a business function," says Adam.
Being a free house, The Plough Inn is able to stock a wide range of guest ales.
Families have always been at the heart of The Plough Inn's success.
There are no smoking areas and the menu is varied.
Service is prompt but diners are not rushed through their meals and a modern till system helps The Plough Inn cater for up to 600 diners.
"We concentrate on the basics," says Adam. "Good food, good beer and pubs with character."
Food is served at The Plough Inn at Far Forest between noon and 2.30pm on Monday to Saturday, and between noon and 8pm on Sundays.
Booking is highly recommended so give them a call.
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