A pub at the heart of a tiny village inhabited by just 850 people is the only one in Kent to have reached the final stages of a national competition.
Landlady of The Sun Inn at St Nicholas-at-Wade, Sarah Falconer, says the local is a “huge part of the community” and “not cliquey at all”.
The venue, near Birchington, is a finalist at this year’s Great British Pub Awards.
Sarah said: “The closest to us is someone in Essex – we are the only Kent pub.
“We are really proud, it’s pretty great.”
Having worked in the village for the last 25 years, Sarah and her team were running both The Sun Inn and neighbouring pub The Bell Inn until the start of this year, when Sarah decided to focus solely on just one venue in the village.
Since then, she says things have gone from strength to strength with The Sun offering everything from “fantastic food” to live entertainment and comedy nights.
“Everything is locally sourced, cooked by fantastic chefs” Sarah, 41, added.
There are also coffee mornings for older people – while Sarah herself has been known to lend a hand in the nearby village shop when its owner was taken ill – so passionate is she about fostering a true community spirit among those in her tiny neighbourhood.
With the dog-friendly pub drawing in everyone from loyal locals to passing tourists as well as ‘foodies’ from further afield, Sarah promises all are guaranteed a warm welcome.
She said: “We are a huge part of the community.
“It’s not cliquey at all, it’s lovely. It’s such a friendly pub and a lovely village.”
An example of just how much everyone cares for each other, recalls Sarah, was on her wedding day when she and husband Mick – who doesn’t work in the pub trade – got married before a packed congregation who arrived simply through word of mouth.
“I got married in the village a few years ago and we didn’t send a single invitation and yet… you couldn’t get in the church for people!” she said.
“It’s so different here.”
The Sun Inn is now awaiting a ‘secret shopper’ style judge to visit, after which Sarah will be interviewed for a final time, before winners are announced at a glitzy ceremony in Leeds at the end of September that promises to bring together ‘the very best’ in the sector.
But while the lure of a night out – a rare treat for publicans – is on the horizon, Sarah said it’s just an honour to have got this far.
She said: “I have a fantastic team, they have all worked for us for years.
“Just to get to the final six is an achievement.”
The Sun is among six venues from across the UK vying for the title of Admiral Taverns Pub of the Year – which have all been nominated by the pub group from among the 1,600 venues it owns.
And among 100 finalists across all 17 award categories – which also include Best Pub Garden, Best Pub to Watch Sport, Best Pub for Dogs and Best Country Pub – The Sun Inn remains the only Kent watering hole to have made it to the final rounds.
