IT has proved popular with punters during last year’s football World Cup, Eurovision Song Contests and recent Royal weddings.

And the beer garden at Hexham pub, the Grapes, on St Mary’s Chare, has an evident wider appeal after it received most recommendations when the Hexham Courant asked its readers to suggest their favourite beer gardens in Tynedale.

Manager Carla Rowley was overjoyed to receive the most recommendations. She said: “We’re absolutely blown away by some of the lovely comments and feedback we’ve had both as part of and, in response to, the poll.

“It makes the hard work and dedication that myself, my partner Lee Briggs, my parents Carl and Chris and the staff have put in over the past 13 years so worthwhile. Being recognised as one of the best pub gardens when there is such a great offering in Tynedale is just the icing on the cake for our lovely little secret garden and we’re so grateful to everyone that has contributed and taken the time to comment.”

More than 100 people took the opportunity to leave their recommendations, and it was a close-run affair. Receiving the second highest amount of votes was the Boatside Inn, Warden, followed by Wallace Arms, Featherstone, near Haltwhistle, Dipton Mill Inn, near Hexham, and Tynedale Cricket Club, Hexham.

Just missing out on the top five were the following: Manor House, Haltwhistle; Sun Inn, Acomb; Rat Inn, Anick; Hollybush Inn, Greenhaugh.