CHEERS! Punters have had their say and the Bedwardine pub has been voted Worcester’s best.

Hundreds of votes were cast in the Worcester News Pub of the Year competition.

Now lucky landlords Sebastian and Laura O’Donnell will receive a trophy and a trip to Parliament with Worcester MP Robin Walker.

They clearly have had an impact on their punters as the duo only took over the pub a year ago.

The large number of votes in our inaugural competition shows that Worcester residents appreciate excellent pubs, and that’s great because pubs are like community centres these days as they offer people – including some who may not have much company otherwise – a place to socialise.

That’s why it’s so important to support them. With cheap alcohol available in supermarkets and rising rent costs, nationally hundreds of pubs close each year and the only way to stop that is to make sure our that locals are successful businesses.

So let’s all raise a glass to the O’Donnells and all our nominees.