A Sittingbourne boozer has pipped Swale pubs to the post to be named the best in the borough.

The Paper Mill micro pub in Charlotte Street, Sittingbourne, has been named Swale’s Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the Year for 2015.

To mark the win Marianne Melia, 47, and her son Harvey, who opened the venue in October 2013, held a celebration at the pub on Saturday, laying on food and many of their popular beers for customers.

On the same day they were also presented with a certificate by Paul Irving, chairman of the Swale branch of Camra.

Mr Melia, 24, said: “It’s an honour to win such a prestigious award.

“Our thanks to all the Camra members that voted for us and the support we have had from all of our customers and regulars that have made the pub as successful as it is.”

The pub will now go forward to battle it out in the regional heats in their quest to become National Pub of the Year, the winners of which will be announced in early 2016.

The Three Tuns in Lower Halstow, The Three Hats in Milton Regis, and The Elephant in Faversham are among the finalists.

To become a Camra member visit the website www.camra.org.uk