A PUB near Pershore has won a regional award at the Whitbread Pub Partnerships Excellence Awards 2000.

The Plough and Harrow, at Drakes Broughton, won the West regional award for Staff Development of the Year.

The award not only recognised the pub as the best in the region, but also brought with it a three-day all expenses paid trip to Monte Carlo in November for the national finals of the awards programme.

The Plough and Harrow also received two highly commended awards for Pub Business of the Year and Pub Employee of the Year, which was awarded to Gill Bowcott.

According to the regional judging panel, the pub demonstrated the highest standards of staff development and training, linked to the customers' needs and legislative requirements.

"It's great to be the winner at a regional level and know that we're the best in the West," said David Smith, who runs the Plough and Harrow.

"The next stage is much harder and we'll be doing everything we can to impress the judges that our pub is the best in the country."

The national final will take place in Monte Carlo on Tuesday, November 14.