Kenilworth pub is flying the flag for Warwickshire after being shortlisted for a Great British Pub Award

The Famous Virgins and Castle on the old High Street in Kenilworth has been shortlisted for a Great British Pub Award and they’re flying the flag for Warwickshire.

The 16th century pub owned by hospitality group Caviar & Chips is now down to the last six finalists in the country for their category, but they need the support of a public vote to help win the award.

The Great British Pub Heroes Awards were set up to showcase the fantastic contributions that pubs all over the country have made during the Coronavirus pandemic, celebrating those establishments that have adapted their businesses to come out the other side as community champions.

Each winner will be offered the opportunity to submit an application for up to £10,000 each to fund a business improvement or upgrade or to put towards a community project.

Additionally, award sponsors Coca-Cola will fund a further £1,000 donation to a local charity or good cause supported by each of the winning pubs.

The Virgins and Castle has been shortlisted for the category of staff welfare, recognising how they have supported their team through the pandemic.

Jonathan Carter-Morris, co-founder and executive chef at Caviar & Chips, said: "We’re really excited to have been shortlisted for this national award.

"The last few months have been incredibly hard for everyone and particularly in the world of hospitality. Pubs up and down the UK have really had to adapt to keep in business, but those that have, have made a massive difference to their communities.

"For us at the Virgins and Castle, we put a lot of investment in our team wellbeing even when the world was 'normal'.

"We’re trying to buck the trend for what it’s like working in hospitality and it’s been like that since our company was started."

General manager Andy Lock added: "During the coronavirus pandemic we ran a host of initiatives to support and ensure our team were ok.

"We wanted to make it through the other side ensuring everyone’s jobs were safe and that they felt safe coming back to work. At the beginning of lockdown we kept in touch with online calls, email and text messages and then we set up a weekly wellbeing check-ins.

"We would focus on different themes each week like physical exercise, learning, supporting the community and mental health.

"One week we worked with our wine supplier to do online training learning about wines which was not only interesting, but helped with team development when we were ready to re-open.

"At Easter we sent a Sunday roast to each of our team members with a bottle of wine so they could enjoy a meal with their families safe at home.

"We’re up against pubs in Cornwall, Renfrewshire, Yorkshire and Lingfield and we need as many votes as we can now to be in with a chance to win. So we’re calling on everyone in Warwickshire to get involved and leave us a vote so that we can put Kenilworth and Warwickshire on the map as the home of a Great British Pub."

You can vote for the Famous Virgins and Castle for the Great British Pub Awards on the website www.greatbritishpubawards.co.uk/staff-welfare