PUB-GOERS in Worcestershire are being given the chance to toast their local and nominate its beer garden for a national award.

Whether it’s a quaint country inn with a pretty flower filled garden or a modern city centre bar with an alfresco drinking area, all are eligible for the Britain’s Best Beer Garden accolade.

The competition is being run by SME Insurance Services (SMEi), which specialises in providing business insurance to the pub and hospitality sector. It wants to champion the great British pub and the wealth of beer gardens available by finding the most vibrant, quirky, atmospheric, family friendly and picturesque gardens across the UK.

Customers, publicans and breweries can all enter their favourite by submitting pictures of their chosen beer garden and a description of why people feel it is the best beer garden in the UK to smeinsurance.com/britains-best-beer-garden.

The judges will be looking for the most picturesque, atmospheric and family friendly pub or bar outdoor space and the contest is open to gardens of all shapes and sizes.

Entries must be received by midnight on Wednesday August 31 and those shortlisted will be put to a public vote on Facebook – giving customers and local communities the chance to provide their support and vote for their favourite local.

The winner will be crowned by SMEi as having Britain’s Best Beer Garden 2016 and the top three entries will all receive prizes – a £500 gift card for the first place, a £250 gift card for second place, and a £150 gift card for third place.

Jonathan Webber, commercial director of SME Insurance, said: “There are some stunning beer gardens across the UK, however they’re often largely undiscovered or unappreciated. With summer upon us, we wanted to shine the spotlight on the best outdoor facilities local pubs across Worcester have to offer and crown the champion.

“We provide insurance cover to some fantastic pubs and wine bars, with lots of them attracting many of their customers purely because of their unique and inviting beer gardens. We know the effort which goes into making these gardens special, so if you feel your pub could be number one in the Britain’s Best Beer Garden 2016 competition, we’d urge you to enter straight away.”