SUNDAY LUNCH SOARS AT THE EAGLE

A Lancashire country inn has been voted the best place in the UK to get a mouthwatering Sunday pub lunch less than a year after it started trading.

The Eagle in Barrow won Sunday Lunch Pub of the Year, sponsored by Essential Cuisine and its hit No1 Gravy, at the Publican Food & Drinks Awards 2009.

It is a personal and professional victory for owner and local entrepreneur Kevin Berkins, who was determined to put the pub on the culinary map after buying and converting the former restaurant over 18 months. In under a year, he has achieved his aim, despite the recession.

Judges were impressed by the importance placed on the important Sunday dining occasion at The Eagle and the pride taken in its Sunday roasts, which focus heavily on quality and service.

With meat traditionally a big part of Sunday lunch, Kevin’s experience as an award-winning butcher and National Sausage Champion also shone through.

The freehouse has its own beef-aging unit and Kevin, who also owns the Fence Gate Inn, near Burnley, cooks game he has shot or stalked himself before bringing it back for hanging and preparation. Dedicated to provenance, local suppliers’ details are included on the Sunday menu.

Sixteen awards were handed out to pubs and pub companies that in the last 12 months have thrived at the Publican Food & Drink Awards, hosted by comedian Dominic Holland at Park Lane’s Intercontinental Hotel.

The Eagle beat off competition from finalists The Fishes in North Hinksey Village, Oxfordshire, The Mark Cross Inn in Crowborough, East Sussex, and The Ship in Wandsworth, London.



10/11/2009|