Say cheers! City's reborn Laddie still celebrating its new accolade

The co-owner of a Leeds pub has spoken of his and the team's delight after being voted the best pub in Britain just months after opening.

- by Charles Gray

The Highland Laddie team after being named the Best Pub in Britain by The Good Food Guide.

Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton took over the lease of The Highland Laddie at the start of the year and reopened it to much fanfare in April, reviewers and visitors praising the traditional feel and phenomenal menu.

Earlier this month it was confirmed that the Good Food Guide had named it the Best Pub In Britain - and the two cosy rooms that make up the venue have been "absolutely rammed" since with people toasting their achievement.

Sam said receiving the news, which he has kept secret since mid-October, was "an amazing shock to say the least", but that he had had his eyes on the accolade.

He said: "We expected to get in the top 100 on account of what we're doing, but didn't expect to win the whole thing. I nearly fell over.

"The Highland's always been an institution - a bit like The Grove and The Templar. These places have always been there and people use them, but I think they forget about them. But obviously this has put us right back on the map."