THE Crown in Old Basing has been selected as one of the 2015 Good Food Guide’s top 50 pubs.

Head chefs Chris Barnes and Tom Wilson have put the pub firmly on the map as an extraordinary place to eat.

The Guide says: “The Crown is a real find. That’s not to say that they’re cooking haute cuisine, not a bit of it, for this place is all about classy renditions of pub style food made in house.”

Chris Barnes remarked: “It’s a real honour to be included alongside so many great pubs and restaurants, many of which I have eaten at and admired. It’s a huge achievement for the team here. They have worked so hard and have now been recognised in such a prestigious guide.

“For me personally, having worked in Good Food Guide establishments, it is a humbling experience to see our pubs’ name in this guide”.

Tom added: "It’s fantastic news that we are in this national guide, a real credit to the hard work and commitment of the team here at The Crown. Now we have to push on to achieve more”.

The Good Food Guide is produced by Waitrose and based on ratings from secret diners.

For the 2015 edition they have introduced a list of the top 50 pubs in order of merit.

A long list for potential entries is created from the huge volume of feedback received from the public. Anonymous inspectors then visit and rate the establishments using a scoring system.