The Inn Collection Group has been selected as a finalist in a trio of national awards.

The Northumberland-based company, which owns The Coniston Inn, The Angel Inn at Bowness, The Pheasant at Bassenthwaite, The Swan at Grasmere and The Ambleside Inn, features on the shortlist for three categories in the prestigious Publican Awards, which champion the very best operators in the pub industry.

In the running for Best Accommodation Operator and Best Managed Pub Company, the group is also looking to retain the sought-after title of Best Pub Employer, an award the group has held for a record two consecutive years.

Sean Donkin, managing director of The Inn Collection Group said: “To reach the finals in three categories is a real boost in these difficult times, as the sector continues to be hard-hit by the ongoing pandemic.

“More so, it’s a fitting tribute to the extraordinary team we have at The Inn Collection Group who display time after time their resilience, passion to succeed and agility to adapt, evolve and deliver.

He added: “We will continue to reinvest in our staff with the latest innovations in training and supporting their well-being throughout these difficult times.

“We are continuing to carry out exciting refurbishments and upgrades across our inns and investing in the environments and communities we operate within.”

Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser which organises the event, said: “Ours is a sector that has been battered long and hard by the storm of the crisis with limited support that continues to tail off.

“Yet despite that, we’ve seen some fantastic responses from operators in the trade and these awards, as ever, aim to recognise that excellence, as well as shining a light on how our sector continues to push onwards, despite the difficulties it faces.”

A panel of judges made up of leading industry experts will start the second stage of the rigorous judging process, conducting virtual head office visits to assess finalists before Dragon’s Den style panel interviews conclude the judging process.

An online evening awards ceremony on March 30 will replace the usual Publican Awards ceremony at Battersea Evolution in London.