FIVE years after it reopened under new ownership, the Rose & Crown pub in Trowbridge could be crowned the best in the country after being shortlisted in a national pub and bar competition.

The Stallard Street pub was named as one of the top seven pubs in the South West in the shortlist for the National Pub & Bar Awards and will battle it out against 93 other establishments to take the national title at the finals in London on May 24.

As part of Banwell House Pubs, the pub prides itself on customer service, a relaxed atmosphere and quality pub grub including homemade pizzas.

Marie Helpin, who has been manager at the pub for a year, said staff only found out the news a few weeks ago.

She added: “We were all quite excited to find out we had been shortlisted actually, because we are only a small group of about six to eight people.

“I think the pub is unique and small and so we like to put a personal touch to things.

"The design of the pub is quite nice and social and so we get a lot of regulars who come in for a quiet drink.

“There is a good atmosphere here at the pub and we have all the same friendly staff here for a while and so it is the same faces to welcome our customers and we have a good relationship between one another.”

The awards, organised by Pub & Bar magazine, will see 12 regional winners and one overall National Pub & Bar of the Year crowned on the night at BAFTA in London.

The Rose & Crown was previously owned by John and Mary O’Mara.

for 32 years in the town before it was sold to Banwell House Pubs in 2010 at auction.

Chloe Usherwood, operations manager submitted the entry for the Rose & Crown into the awards but never expected to be shortlisted along with their sister pub in Bath.

“The place has changed over the last five years because we refurbished the pub in February last year and before then it was more traditional looking but now there are modern pieces of furniture and decorations,”

“The clientele we have here is really good and we get not only couples but also families so the demographic hasn’t changed too much.”