CELEBRATIONS were in order as a popular Weymouth pub was crowned Cask Ale Pub of the Year.

The Boot Inn, the town's oldest pub, was announced as Cask Ale Pub of the Year at the Marston’s Leased and Taverns Awards.

Manager Kevin Strickland said being given the award was ‘a fantastic result’.

The Boot has been a regional winner in the past and this year made the national finals.

Mr Strickland added: “Winning at the southern region once was great, and twice was fantastic.

“Then to get the hat-trick was just brilliant; but going on to win the national title was overwhelming.

“We work timelessly to keep up a good reputation and without the hard work of our staff we wouldn’t have won the awards we have.”

The Boot offers a selection of Marston’s cask ales on a permanent basis, but also has a choice of different guest ales available every week, with up to 10 ales in total.

The awards are open to the entire Marston’s Taverns and Leased estate of more than 1,400 pubs across the country and acknowledge and reward excellence.

Iain Jackson, operations director for Taverns and Leased Marston’s, said: “It’s a wonderful achievement for everyone at the Boot Inn.

“It’s a really tough competition to win and this year the standards were higher than ever.”