Staff at a pub in Old Radnor are “delighted” as they have been recognised as the best pub in Powys for 2021.

Despite a tough 18 months for the hospitality industry due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, The Harp Inn was crowned the best pub in Powys by the National Pub and Bar Awards which recently published it list of winners.

Chef Josh Smith, who helps run the award-winning pub with his partner Katie, said they are delighted to have been recognised by the awards.

He said: “It was great, after being closed for 16 months, it was a nice little booster for us as we’ve opened our doors again."

The Harp Inn, which is owned by Chris and Angela Ireland, re-opened its doors to the public in May when pubs and bars in Wales were allowed to start serving customers indoors.

Josh, who said they have been working hard to keep the pub safe for customers, said that its has been packed since it reopened.

“We’ve been fully booked for every service - in fact we’re booked up a couple of weeks in advance so it has been really busy,” he said.

The Pub and Bar Awards released its UK-wide list of 94 county winners including seven other Welsh pubs publicly on Friday, July 16.

As well as the current county accolades, the awards are also looking to crown: The Taproom of the Year; Pub Chef of the Year; Pub Brand of the Year; Bar Brand of the Year; and, Bartender of the Year.

The Harp Inn, along with the other 93 county winners, are all invited to the National Pub and Bar Awards grand final in London in September which will further see 15 regional winners crowned as well as the overall National Pub and Bar of the Year.

The county winners, which have been selected on overall best practice across a number of operational categories, are described by the awards as showing a high level of quality which is shown to visitors on a daily basis.

The aim of the awards is to put the national spotlight on what it describes as the “finest on-trade businesses across the UK” which all show how “diverse and creative” the hospitality really is as well as how the “inspirational” businesses survived the pandemic.

The editor of Pub & Bar magazine Tristan O’Hana, said: “Some pubs coast a little on having a beautiful location, neglecting other elements that add up to true hospitality - this is certainly not the case at the Harp. From the food and drink, to the service and beautiful, original aesthetics, if you’re not lucky enough to be a local, this pub is well worth taking a trip to.”

Congrats again, and we look forward to celebrating with you in September.

For the full story, get your copy of The Brecon & Radnor Express - on sale now!