THE owner and staff at a pub said they “were shocked” after being namedthe Weston Mercury Pub of the Year.

Simon Channing, owner of Raddy’s Café and Bar on Beach Road in Weston-super-Mare, said he received the news while he was at Glastonbury Festival.

He said: “We were shocked to know we had won.

“We said, ‘we will have a go and see how we get on’. It just shows we have a lot of loyal supporters who helped us win.

“Everyone in our venue feels safe. It is a very friendly environment. Everyone is a regular and people here make everyone feel welcome.

(Image: Contributed)

“We try to create a welcoming environment and we are very well-priced, especially for a bar.

“Raddy’s has always been popular in years gone past then lost its way a little, but we try to bring back a family-run type of business.”

Simon also said “diversity” is the keyword and he tries to engage with different groups within the community, like charities and sports clubs.

The bar, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in March next year, also has a “very big darts following,” and “sponsors a lot of local sports teams, schools, and church clubs”.

Simon added: “We have different things. We try to do different things; we are not afraid to change something that doesn’t work.

“After Covid, was a very difficult time, but we managed to encourage a younger crowd in the venue.

“We are trying to return something good to the community.”