Dunbar pub named Dog-Friendly Pub of the Year in national awards

A Dunbar pub has been named Scotland’s Dog-Friendly Pub of the Year at a national awards ceremony.

Scotland's Dog-Friendly Pub of the Year is now officially The Brig & Barrel in Dunbar

The Scottish Bar and Pub, organised by the publishers of DRAM magazine, are now in their 25th year, but instead of industry leaders getting together the ceremony was held virtually for the first time with hundreds still tuning in to see the top picks for the categories this year.

The Brig and Barrel on Belhaven High Street scooped up the prize in a virtual ceremony which saw more than a dozen awards handed out throughout the country.

Owners James and Sarah Hughes, and labrador Fozzie took over the pub at the beginning of July 2018 before a near-year-long refurbishment project.

The pub doors reopened at the beginning of June 2019, but it has now been impacted by Covid-19 and the changing restrictions.

Speaking about the award, James said: “It was a nice wee surprise. We were in the final for three categories, most improved beer garden and pub of the year too, which was great to make the finals.

“To be named the winner of the Dog Friendly Pub of the Year was superb.

“We are dog lovers ourselves and always think a country pub has to be welcoming to dogs.

“I ask potential members of staff if they like dogs because we get so many coming in. The dogs get a lot of attention from staff.

“They have got water bowls and get a few biscuits and tend to get spoilt.”

A record 9,000 people voted this year and a total of 20 awards were presented to unsuspecting recipients surprised by a knock at the door and a socially distanced congratulations.

Susan Young, organiser of the awards and DRAM publisher, said: “If you’d have told me all those years ago that we would be celebrating our 25th anniversary virtually and with no physical venue or audience, I’d have said there’s more chance of us doing it on the moon. But we couldn’t have hoped for a more action-packed and energised live virtual event.

“I take my hat off to everybody in this industry who has worked night and day to keep pubs and restaurants open safely and responsibly and people in jobs despite the challenges of Covid.”

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