A historic village pub has officially been named the best in Kent.

The Marquis of Granby, in Alkham near Dover, has beaten all other pubs in the county to give its landlords a second consecutive title.

Husband-and-wife team Will and Nadine Sheldon took over the 200-year-old site – then named the Marquis at Alkham – in 2019, and have transformed it under their Contemporary Pubs Ltd business.

Mr Sheldon, managing director of the company, says he is “incredibly pleased” with the award, which is the company’s second in two years with two separate pubs.

“The team have worked in complete synergy both front and back of house and I certainly feel that this wonderful accolade is an amazing achievement for all involved,” he added.

“It’s clear that everyone is 100% committed to the success of the company, which is wonderful.

“This is a huge honour for us, and we are so grateful to our staff, customers and suppliers for their support.”

The team will now look ahead to the national awards, where they will compete against 93 other pubs for the top awards.

Group manager Hugh Thompson added: “We are absolutely over the moon, we’re very lucky to have a team both front and back of house who are full of good eggs.

“The awards are a nice pat on the back and they prove that we’re doing something right!”

The pub is named after Lt-Gen John Manners who lived from 1721-1770 and was overall commander of the British troops on the battlefield in the Seven Years War before becoming Commander-in-Chief of the Forces.

The eldest son of the 3rd Duke of Rutland, he did not outlive his father or inherit the dukedom and so took his father’s subsidiary title, the Marquess of Granby.

Mr and Mrs Sheldon won the award last year with their other pub, the Tiger Inn in Stowting, between Ashford and Folkestone.

The family-run company has leased and managed the business since its purchase by the Marquis Hotel Group in March 2021.

Following a six-figure refurbishment, it reopened in June under Mr and Mrs Sheldon's care and taking just 10 months to land the prestigious county award.