derehamtimes24.co.uk and fakenhamtimes24.co.uk Thursday, September 15, 2016 5 NEWS Fantastic Fox is named as ’s best pub

Kathryn Cross [email protected]

A couple who took over the running of a village pub just two years ago say they are still “in shock” after it was crowned Norfolk’s Best Pub at a prestigious award ceremony. Gavin and Victoria Hunt were stunned after their pub The Fox in the mid Norfolk village of Lyng, near , was announced the winner of the accolade at the EDP Norfolk Food and Drink Awards. The award was even more special due to the fact that it came from a public vote of EDP and EDP Norfolk Magazine readers and the cate- gory had a record-breaking number of votes cast. Their rivals, also shortlisted as finalists in the vote, were The Swan in Loddon and The I Gavin and Victoria Hunt celebrate their pub being named Norfolk’s best with daughters Erin and Megan King and managers Sophie Watson, left, and Banningham Crown. Jonathan Harrington, front, at the EDP Norfolk Food & Drink Awards. Inset: The Fox at Lyng. Mrs Hunt said: “It was a massive shock. We were happy to be finalists but we never thought we would win. “We have only been there a couple of years so we did not know if we had built up enough of a reputation.” ALGY’S FARM SHOP She said the staff were all thrilled with the “THE BEST OF NORFOLK’S SEASONAL PRODUCE” win and they had recieved dozens of messages Home of Algy’s from them saying how proud they were to be SWEETCORN Norfolk Popcorn part of the team. 3 FOR £1 & Bintree Bird Seeds Mrs Hunt also praised her loyal customers adding: “I think the location is good and the HOME GROWN village does want to have a good pub. You are LOCAL only as good as your customers and they want PUMPKINS us to be great and so the staff work extra hard SHARRINGTON STRAWBERRIES CAULIFLOWER to make it a friendly place to come. CHICKENS CURLY KALE “It is just fantastic to be named Norfolk’s CLEY SMOKEHOUSE FISH CAVOLO NERO best pub - out of this world.” WILLY WESTON’S FISH PIES SWEETCORN The couple also run The Lodge at nearby FARM TO FORK MEAT which has been under BROCCOLI NORFOLK TOMATOES their management for nine years. COURGETTES They collected their award at the ceremony JONAS CROMER CRABS CABBAGES at Open in Norwich with daughters Erin and RASPBERRIES Megan King and managers Sophie Watson and BUNCHED CARROTS RUNNER BEANS Jonathan Harrington, joining more than 250 ARTISAN BREAD AVAILABLE people at the celebration of the county’s food ON FRIDAYS “DON’T FORGET heroes, held in association with the East of NORFOLK NEW POTATOES OUR FEATHERED Co-op. FRIENDS. KEEP Eleven winners were chosen from an excep- tionally high standard of finalists after an YOUR FEEDERS intensive summer of tasting, visiting and TOPPED UP WITH interviewing the numerous entries. OUR OWN RANGE It was hosted by David Whiteley, who OF SEEDS AND presents Inside Out on BBC1, and Norfolk FEEDS!” Magazine editor Angi Kennedy.

It was a massive shock. Summer opening We were happy to be Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm | Sunday 10am-4pm finalists but we never thought we would win. www.algysfarmshop.co.uk Victoria Hunt 01362 683893 / 07775 517473 off A1067 Bintree, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 5NE