A PUB on Barrow Island has receive a plaque to cement its achievement as Best Pub in Barrow 2019.

The Devonshire won the award issued by The Mail last year and landlady Sabria Mcaloone was close to tears at the time after customers voted in their droves to give an overwhelming thumbs-up to the Michaelson Road site.

She said: "I am made up with the plaque, it got waylaid from last year and it is quite overwhelming really.

"We have got everything in place ready to open and we have all the staff up to date with what to do and how to act.

"This is the new normal and we have to get used to it."I am looking forward to welcoming my customers back.

"I would like to say thank you to them for what they did for me during lockdown.

"The customers got me flowers and gave me some money during the lockdown which was really lovely."

Her partner Mark Griffiths was equally as excited to receive this although he put a lot of the success down to Sabria's hard work.

He said: "We are ready to open and have been doing a refurbishment and trying our best to meet the guidelines as is is difficult with no hard and fast rules.

"We have been here for 22 years and we have managed to keep on top of things.

"We have known the Cavendish family for years and Sabria does a lot to keep the pub going."

The pub is due to celebrate by opening its doors to its loyal customers once again today, and they have been very busy redecorating and making sure the settings meet social distancing requirements.

Customers will be coming in to see their favourite drinking establishment with a new plaque on the wall to celebrate its brilliance.

Lucy Cavendish said: “This well-deserved award reflects Sam’s work, with tireless support from her husband Mark over the years, to improve the Devonshire Hotel in order to provide a wonderful service to their community.

"The Holker Group is honoured to help them celebrate with this plaque, and to wish them well as they welcome their customers back to the pub.”