The landlord of a Kent boozer said it was an “honour” to be chosen as a runner-up for the best place to drink in the country.

The Nelson Arms, in Tonbridge, reached the final four of CAMRA’s national Pub of the Year awards after it claimed the regional title.

Speaking to KentOnline, Matthew Rudd, who runs the pub, said: “It is a great honour to receive the accolade from CAMRA and the recognition means a lot.

“But, we are also pleased for the town in general. It is great for our customers and staff.

“We have found people in Tonbridge always get behind the small, independent business and they have been behind us.

“To represent the South East of England, we were thrilled.”

The pubs in the CAMRA competition are scored on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression and – of course – the quality of their beer, real cider and perry.

The Nelson Arms lost out on being crowned Pub of the Year to the Tamworth Tap, in Tamworth, which judges said was “an excellent example of a pub at the centre of its community”.

The Trafalgar Hotel, on the Isle of Man, and The Beer Engine, in Skipton, were also named runner-ups along with the Kent public house.

Matthew added: “It is a success story as it was almost lost and it has been well received by the community. It is brilliant.”

Locally known as the Nelly, it was thought the pub would become flats when brewery Shepherd and Neame closed it in February 2017.

However, the Barden Residents Association, which is made up of residents, came together and fought off developers and registered it as a community asset.

The pub, on the corner of Cromer Street and Nelson Avenue, reopened in May 2018 following a renovation.