A KENDAL pub has cleaned up' in a top culinary competition.

The Gateway Inn at Plumgarths scooped the Best Kept Kitchen award dished out by Daniel Thwaites Brewery after a contest involving pubs across the North West.

Licensee Lynn Ball beat off stern competition from rival Thwaites' houses to pick up the regional first prize and received a framed certificate with a bottle of bubbly to mark the achievement.

"We are committed to the highest standards and it is wonderful to be recognised with an award of this nature," said Lynn. "It reflects well on the pub and the people who work here."

The competition is in its inaugural year. Thwaites' catering development manager Judi Houghton said: "We had very clear objectives and the Gateway Inn has displayed outstanding ability in all aspects of its catering operation including hygiene standards, menus, food preparation, service and systems."

April 16, 2003 15:00