BEFORE the construction of Kielder Reservoir, thirsty residents of the hamlet of Stannersburn had to rely on the beer served straight from the barrel in a tiny pub called the Crown Inn.

However, the never ending demands of the dam builders for food and drink around the clock saw the humble hostelry transformed into a thriving pub and restaurant.

It changed its name to the Pheasant and, 30 years on, is now recognised as one of the best places to go for food and drink in the country.

For in the expert hands of mine hosts Robin and Angela Kershaw, the Pheasant has just been inducted into the certificate of excellence Hall of Fame operated by travel website TripAdvisor.

The Certificate of Excellence award celebrates excellence in hospitality and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve great traveller reviews on the TripAdvisor website.

The Hall of Fame status is only achieved by those businesses that have earned a Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years.

“There is no greater seal of approval than having our hospitality, food and service levels being recognised by our customers,” Robin said. “Running a busy pub and B&B takes 100 per cent commitment and hard work to make sure everything we do is consistently as good as it can possibly be, which is why it is a great boost to see our team’s hard work translated into good reviews.”