A POPULAR Wylam pub, which has received top marks for the quality of its drinks, has been ranked among the best pubs in the country.

The Boathouse on Station Road in Wylam was named in the Pick of the Pubs list following a study by Holidaycottages.co.uk

The study saw two beer connoisseurs on a mission to find the 10 best rural pubs across England, Scotland and Wales, rating each one on its drink quality, food and location.

The Boathouse came out with a score of 10 out of 10 for the quality of its drinks, while for food it scored seven out of 10 and for location nine out of 10 – placing it in ninth position in the list overall.

Holidaycottages.co.uk praised the pub’s location next to Wylam railway station.

It added: “The Boathouse is a pub that takes its beer very seriously, boasting 14 hand-pull options at any one time.

“Its bank holiday beer festivals attract crowds from Newcastle and beyond, and its dedication to sourcing the best draught ales has seen it win a staggering 15 CAMRA awards over the years.”

Owner Lynsey Hogarty, who said the the pub had been in her family since 1995, revealed that she had found out the news on social media.

“I was over the moon – it’s great news,” she said.

“A lot of people have been congratulating us and really the comments we have been getting are people saying it’s going to encourage more people to come – which is great.”

Meanwhile, the pub’s dog-friendly policy and Tuesday busker night also went down a treat with the secret inspectors, who commented that the pub “offers feel-good vibes all week long”.