Nestled next to the Leeds and Liverpool canals, you’ll discover a pub with a beer garden that’s a surefire magnet for any weary rambler. The Ring O’Bells in Lathom, West Lancashire, has just scooped not one, but two accolades in the prestigious LUXlife Hospitality Awards 2024 – bagging the Country Pub of the Year and Best Sunday Lunch awards.

Proudly presenting itself as “a country pub – reimagined”, The Ring O’Bells swung its doors open once again in November 2023 after a top-notch refurbishment. The establishment strikes an impeccable balance between sleek, contemporary style and the warm embrace of classic country pub charm.

The crown jewel of this delightful watering hole is undoubtedly its sizeable beer garden. When reporter Dan Haygarth visited last November, he found the splendid outdoor area absolutely captivating, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Welcoming patrons with promises of ‘Ale, Cider, Meat’, a neatly chalked sign outside the charming 19th-century pub was all the encouragement Dan needed. He said: “Inside, vintage posters Vintage posters adorn a bar area which retains a number of original features but also feels modern.

“The stylish drinking area then gives way to a big conservatory being used as a dining room, bordered by windows looking out towards the canal. However, I think the best spot is an outside seat.”

Dan continued: “A courtyard and other terraces surround the vast building, leading onto a vast field, which separates the pub from the canal. Frankly, beer gardens don’t get much better – you get a great view of the handsome pub or of the canal – and there are hordes of seating options, where you can enjoy a drink in a very pleasant setting.

“The terraces catch the sun, they are stylishly designed – like the pub itself – and there’s even a play area for those too young to enjoy a lager. When the temperature drops, there’s a fire pit, which does not go amiss.

“I can’t speak for the award-winning roast dinners, as we were only there for a leisurely drink. But it offers exactly what you would want from a country pub, and uses its pretty setting perfectly. It’s not what you might expect from such a pub, but it succeeds in reimagining it for the modern day.”

About the LUXlife awards, Ring OBells’ general manager Paul Harrison told the ECHO: “We’re thrilled to receive such prestigious awards so early in the company’s life.

“We wanted to create something special that everyone in the community can enjoy and I believe we’ve done so in spadefuls. The team are over the moon and we can’t thank everyone who has supported us in the past few months enough.”

The pub is found at Ring O Bells Lane, Lathom, L40 5TE, you can find out more here.