Best local, that’s not exactly local

It takes nerves of steel to negotiate the twisting single-track road leading to the remote village of Applecross. But at the end of the journey lies salvation for thirsty drivers – the newly crowned Scottish Pub of the Year.

The authors of the Good Pub Guide have awarded their top prize in Scotland to the Applecross Inn for the first time, describing it as a “no-nonsense, welcoming bar” which, at 80 miles from Inverness, is “splendidly remote”.

The 2012 edition of the industry “bible”, published today, also singles out the Bow Bar in Edinburgh as the UK’s whisky pub of the year.

The Fox and Hounds in Houston, Renfrewshire, which won the Campaign for Real Ale’s Scottish Pub of the Year in the Good Beer Guide, and the Stein Inn on Skye were both shortlisted in the whisky category.

“It’s not easy for the pub scene anywhere at the moment, but the Scottish pubs in our Good Pub Guide do seem to be riding the storm,” said guide editor, Fiona Stapley.

“Scotland’s pub of the year has to be a good all-rounder and must appeal to a wide mix of customers.

“We base our choice on all our thousands of reader reports over the year and as we come to edit the guide and use these reports, it becomes quite clear who the natural winner will be.”

Judith Fish, who has owned the Applecross Inn since 1989, said she was excited to win this latest award. The Applecross Inn was previously named Scottish Dining Pub of the year in 2008 and 2009.

“I am delighted to win this award,” she said. “It is down to a great team of staff of whom I am very proud who work very hard to provide a good atmosphere.”

She said the return of chef Robbie MacRae, who was brought up on the Applecross peninsula, Wester Ross, and previously trained under the Roux brothers before making a comeback at the pub last year, had contributed to the high quality of the food.

“We have won the best dining pub previously, but never the main award – this is very exciting for all of us,” she added.

Just ten miles away, the Tigh an Eilean Hotel in Shieldaig, was named Scottish dining pub of the year, while a number of other establishments north of the Border were ranked in top ten UK-wide awards.

Edinburgh’s Cafe Royal was shortlisted as a top ten town pub nationally, while Bon Accord in Glasgow was named as a top ten beer pub and the Fox and Hounds received a second accolade as a top ten own-brew pub for its Houston Brewery, which is based next to the pub.

The guide’s findings were not all good news for Scottish pub-goers. The cost of an average pint of bitter in Scotland is the most expensive outside of London and the south east at £3.11 – well above the UK average of £3. The cheapest area in the UK to drink is the north of England, where an average pint costs just £2.87.

The guide, launched 30 years ago, also surveyed pub restaurant managers to find the most popular pub meal in the UK – a title won by steak in ale pie.

The guide said British pubs have begun to compete with European establishments in terms of the quality of non-beer drinks. “Good British pubs are likely to have nicer wine by the glass, and a wider choice, than a typical French bar,” said the guide.