STAFF and customers at a Linwood pub have been raising their glasses after the watering hole won a prestigious award.

The Clippens Inn was named Community Pub of the Year at the annual Scottish Bar & Pub Awards, which took place at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, in Glasgow, on Tuesday, August 30.

It was the venue’s second competition win this year, following on from success in this year’s Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards, where the watering hole was named Best Pub.

Jackie Gilmour, co-owner of The Clippens Inn, said she was “over the moon” with their latest achievement.

She told The Gazette: “We were all sitting with our fingers crossed and as soon as they announced we had won, we all erupted with relief. It was just magic.

“Myself and Janet Montgomery, who is the manager of the pub, attended the event along with our partners and three of our customers.

“The community has supported the pub very well, especially during these trying times, and we in turn like to give back.

“We put on live music, as well as sponsor local football teams and tournaments at the Woodlands Bowling Club, so to get this recognition really does make a difference.”

A post on the Clippens Inn’s Facebook page sharing the news of their victory has amassed over 400 likes and scores of comments congratulating staff members.

The Scottish Bar & Pub Awards – dubbed the “hospitality Oscars” – sees members of the public vote for the finalists before they are visited by mystery shoppers.

Jackie said: “We were delighted with the feedback from our mystery shopper, who said that as soon as they went in, they knew it was a well-liked pub.

“They said it had a great atmosphere, the customers called the staff by their names, there was lots of laughter and they were made to feel welcome.

“It’s not easy being a publican, as there’s a lot of hard work that goes into it, so it’s great to see that it is paying off and that our customers appreciate what we’re doing.

“I’d like to thank everyone who voted for us and the people of Linwood who are at the pub every week.”

Habbies Bar and Grill, in Kilbarchan, also reached the final four in the Pub of the Year category, but lost out to The Palais, in Glasgow.