A PUB has scooped a clutch of awards at a ceremony to celebrate excellence in licensed premises.

The Bishops’ Mill, in Durham city centre, was named Premises of the Decade, having scored the most points over the ten years of the Best Bar None Awards.

The Wetherspoons’ watering hole also landed the coveted Best Premises in Durham City Bar None having also won the Best Bar award.

Manager Guy Stoker also earned a Special Recognition Award for being the only premises manager to oversee a decade of entries and having guided The Bishops' Mill to either winner or runner-up in the Best Bar category most of those ten years.

Chief Constable Mike Barton, of Durham Constabulary, added: “County Durham and Durham City are world known as destinations of culture.

“Durham City Best Bar None Scheme, now ten years old, has been pivotal in ensuring our many visitors are safe and have a night to remember, with no mornings of regret for those who have enjoyed the night time economy.”

The awards night was held at Ramside Hall Hotel, on last night.

A Special Recognition Award also went to Keith Draper, who came up with the idea for Durham’s Best Bar None programme, as well the city’s national award-winning Pubwatch Scheme, during more than 30 years running The Half Moon Inn.

Councillor Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council, said: “I’d like to offer my congratulations to all the winners and runners up in this special tenth year of the Best Bar None awards.

“It’s really nice to see recognition for Keith, without whom there would be no Best Bar None or Pubwatch in Durham, and Guy who has been a mainstay of the awards.

“The value of Best Bar None over the last decade is beyond doubt. Our city is a safe place to enjoy yourself and the programme has played a major role in that.”

The winners were:

Best pub: The Half Moon Inn

Runner up: The Court Inn

Best bar: The Bishops’ Mill

Runner up: The Library

Best nightclub: Klute

Runner up: Missoula 

Best alcohol-free premises: The Library

Runner up: The Water House

Best university bar: The Stag’s Head, Collingwood College

Runner up: Grey College

2017 best premises in Durham City Bar None: The Bishops’ Mill 

Special Recognition Awards: Keith Draper, Guy Stoker, The Bishops’ Mill

Premises of the decade: The Bishops’ Mill