Britain's best-designed local pub is in Bristol. The Campaign for Real Ale and English Heritage have awarded this accolade to local brewer Bath Ales for its imaginative refurbishment of the Merchants Arms on Merchant Road, Hotwells.

Bath Ales was awarded the Joe Goodwin Award for the Best Restored Local Pub, one of only four prizes given out each year in the National Pub Design Awards.

A pub and provisions store since 1900, the Merchants Arms has been in the considerate hands of award-winning local brewers Bath Ales since October 2000. It was the third acquisition in the company's now five-strong portfolio of managed pubs located across Bristol and Bath.

"A small pub by modern standards, the intimacy of the Merchants Arms is part of its charm," says Bath Ales sales manager Richard Dempster.

"In addition to our dedication to crafting a range of great regional beers, our aim is to rekindle the sense of place that only a local ale house can achieve. We are delighted that our refurbishment of the Merchants Arms has picked up such a prestigious award and hope that our drinkers like it as much as the judges."

Dr Steven Parissien of Sotheby's Institute headed up the panel of judges for the competition. At the presentation ceremony he highlighted the restrained design at the Merchants Arms, its retention of inter-war tiling, old chapel chairs and its splendid chocolate-painted tongue and groove panelling.

"Much has been done here recently, yet it looks as if the Merchant's Arms has been this way for decades - a fitting testimony to the success of this conservation-minded refurbishment," he said.

Richard Dempster adds: "The exterior of the pub is designed to raise visibility of our brand and to stimulate new interest."