A DURHAM pub has been named as the best in the county.

Head of Steam, in North Road, was named the best pub in County Durham by the National Pub and Bar Awards.

It will now be competing against 93 other pubs from up and down the country to be named as the best in the country.

The 12 regional winners and overall pub of the year will be announced at the awards finals, organised by Pub and Bar magazine, on May 24.

Pub and Bar editor Tristan O’Hana said: “These pubs represent all that is great about the modern on-trade. You can only imagine the fantastic variety of operations we have discovered through the judging process – it’s been an absolute pleasure to investigate just how all of these incredible operators run their businesses”