STAFF at a Worcester pub are celebrating after it was chosen as the county's place to eat and drink by the makers of a prestigious guide.

The Bear and Ragged Staff, in Bransford, was chosen as the Worcestershire Dining Pub of the Year by the leading independent Good Pub Guide 2004.

With more than 5,000 public houses featured in the guide each year, it has become a national institution, offering reliable commentary on those pubs that are really worth visiting.

And the Bear and Ragged Staff's licensees Lynda Williams and Andy Kane, should now be even more inundated with customers following the accolade.

"I think it's absolutely superb," said landlord Andy Kane.

"We've strived so hard to work towards that level of achievement for some time now so it's a great achievement for us."

The guide says of the pub: "With its delicious food and welcoming atmosphere, this stylish place is making readers very happy these days.

"The cheerful interconnecting rooms have recently been comfortably refurbished, and give fine views over rolling country - in winter there's an open fire.

"There are proper tablecloths, linen napkins, and fresh flowers on the tables in the no-smoking restaurant.

"They've a good range of wines, lots of malt whiskies, and quite a few brandies and liqueurs, cribbage and piped music."

It lists an "excellent selection of changing bar food" including avocado and crayfish tail salad, beef stroganoff with braised rice, and chargrilled rib-eye steak.