STAFF at the Boot and Slipper in Wettenhall have been celebrating this week after being named the GUARDIAN Pub of the Year 1999.

Competition was stiff between the three finalists, The Boot and Slipper, The Fox Inn at Haslington and The Tollemache Arms in Alpraham.

All three pubs achieved standards of excellence that had prompted customers to vote them into the top three and a team of judges, headed by Crewe and Nantwich Deputy Mayor, Cllr Howard Curran, his wife, Deputy Mayoress, Sheila, and GUARDIAN editor Paul Smith, had the enviable job of sampling food and drink at each pub.

Councillor Curran said everyone had been very impressed by the standards at all three pubs but they had to pick one winner.

"For myself and the other judges the Boot and Slipper was that little bit different. That little bit of difference was the icing on the cake as they say and just edged the verdict in their favour," he said.

"Although the Boot and Slipper has just pipped their main rivals and won the competition there were no losers. Anyone who visits any of the three finalists will soon know they're onto a winner."

The Boot and Slipper is already featured in both the Good Menu Guide and the Good Pub Guide and owner Joan Jones said everyone was delighted to win the award.

"We were very pleased to win," she said. "We feel we have very good staff here who have helped to make everything go very well and to win the GUARDIAN Pub of the Year award is excellent."

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