A HAMPSHIRE pub has been named the best watering hole in the county.

Staff and punters at the King’s Head in Hursley are raising their glasses after the pub was named as the best pub in Hampshire and is among a select group of 94 finalists in The National Pub & Bar Awards.

Staff at the popular pub in Main Road, are calling for support from regulars and people in the county ahead of the awards..

A post on the King’s Head Facebook page read: “We've been named the Best Pub in Hampshire by the National Pub & Bar awards 2016 and will be up for the regional and national awards in May.‪#‎WishUsLuck.”

The current landlords are Penny and Mark Thornhill who took the pub on last year in February.

The awards, organised by Pub & Bar magazine, will see the 94 County Winners entered into and invited to the National Pub & Bar Awards Grand Final, which takes place at London’s iconic BAFTA theatre on May 24.

Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub and Bar magazine said: “These pubs represent all that is great about the modern on-trade.

“You can only imagine the fantastic variety of operations we have discovered through the judging process – It’s been an absolute pleasure to investigate just how all of these incredible operators run their business.

“What’s great about the Awards is that all the attendees of the Grand Final are already winners – they’re the best in their county.

“We’re very much looking forward to celebrating with everyone at BAFTA in London on May 24.”