A FAR Forest publican will be hoping to raise a glass in celebration by winning an industry award that carries a £1,000 cash prize.

Adam Giles, who runs the Plough Inn, is one of 18 finalists nationally in the running for the British Institute of Innkeeping - BII - 2006 Licensee of the Year Award.

The aim of the scheme is to find the licensee who epitomises excellence in the way they run their pub.

According to the BII's director of marketing, Sue Medhurst: "All the finalists impressed the judges and represent some of the best licensees in the business."

Mr Giles said nearly £600,000 had been invested in refurbishing the Plough, which he runs with his father, Mark, since he took it over in May, 2002.

The pub serves up about 3,000 meals a week and Mr Giles, 23, said customer service was key to his nomination, adding: "We work hard to achieve what we do."

The 18 candidates will all be visited by the competition judges, before being whittled down to a shortlist of six, who will be interviewed by experts and attend the awards night at London's Grosvenor House Hotel next March.