THE Cross Guns pub in Avoncliff, near Bradford-on-Avon, has reached the final ten in a competition to find Britain’s Best Beer Garden.

The competition was launched by national digital radio station Union JACK, going on to receive more than a staggering 1,200 nominations.

The overall winner will now be decided by a public vote, with Bradford on Avon locals urged to show their support by casting a vote online at unionjack.co.uk.

Voting opened on Monday and closes at 9am on Friday (August 28). The winning pub will then be announced on air on Bank Holiday Monday (August 31).

The winning pub venue will become the host of a day of live broadcasts by Union JACK radio, including its hugely popular Full English Breakfast Show.

The show will feature comedy from hapless presenter Lucy Leeds and a live pub quiz hosted by Mark 'The Beast' Labbett, whose show The Not-in-a-Pub Pub Quiz was launched to entertain Union JACK listeners during the recent lockdown.

The Cross Guns was shortlisted as a result of its extensive beer garden, which is spread across multiple levels and offers unrivalled views of the iconic Avoncliff Aqueduct.

The lowest level is on the bank of the River Avon itself, lending itself to the perfect boating stop-off.

The pub landlord Jack De Bruin said: “It’s awesome, I can’t believe it. We’re over the moon!”

Giles Gear, programme manager of Union JACK radio, said: “It’s been near impossible finding the final ten from more than 1,200 entries in Union JACK’s competition to find Britain’s Best Beer Garden, and now it’s down to the public.

"If people want their local to win, get online, vote, and spread the word. Having 'The Beast' turn up in your local beer garden really is a money-can’t-buy prize – and we also have a few surprises in store for the winner too.”