The owner of a pub in Cornwall has dedicated a national award to his "lovely staff and loyal customers" after it was named best in the UK.

The Boathouse in Falmouth was declared Pub of the Year at the 2019 Casual Dining Restaurant and Pub, held at London’s Grosvenor Square.

The event saw some of the best restaurants and drinks suppliers in the country gather together to celebrate the food and drink trade, including Nandos, Pizza Express, Wagamamas and Jamie’s Italian.

Boathouse co-owner David Carless said: “We at The Boathouse Falmouth are extremely proud to have won this prestigious award, which is dedicated to all our lovely staff and loyal customers.

“We’ve been proud to hold the keys to this 300-year-old independent pub and restaurant for the last 16 years, during which time we’ve attempted to innovate and refresh our ideas constantly, whilst also trying to remain consistent in our offer.”

He said over the course of their time there, they had developed the pub three times – the most recent one being the addition of a function and dining room with views over the harbour.

“We look forward to welcoming old and new customers for many years to come.

“We also hope that by winning this award this inspires others to embark on a career in the industry as this award demonstrates, it’s a career in which you can truly dedicate yourself to, not just a job to be passed through,” he added.