ONE of Suffolk's oldest and finest public houses has been named one of the region's treasures in a new online guide, in the same week it has been shortlisted for pub of the year.

ONE of Suffolk's oldest and finest public houses has been named one of the region's treasures in a new online guide, in the same week it has been shortlisted for pub of the year.

The Kings Head at Laxfield has been selected to represent Suffolk in the Country Life awards.

And for landlord Bob Wilson and his partner Linda Bower it's a double celebration as British holidaymakers have named it one of East Anglia's best places to eat and drink.

Five country pubs from Suffolk, Norfolk, Hampshire and Cumbria were shortlisted for the Country Life award, which aims to encourage pubs to be more community focused.

The King's Head Inn, better known locally as the Low House, was selected for its traditional atmosphere and home-cooked food and the unique way of serving beer straight from the casks of the tap, rather than from a bar.

The online guide created by cottages4you, as part of its Championing Real Britain campaign is based purely on visitor's personal recommendations after the company asked tourists to talk about their favourite holiday finds.

Geoff Cowley, managing director of cottages4you said: “We started asking for nominations at the start of the summer and have been inundated with people wanting to recommend their favourite places, proving there is so much to discover right on our doorstep. It is fantastic to see how local businesses are valued by the British public and we hope this guide will help to support them for the years to come.”

Mr Wilson said: “Business this summer has been a little bit of a roller coaster - probably due to the weather. But, we have had more visitors than the last two years.

“We offer something very unique which makes the pub appealing - the building is a 16th century coaching Inn, but without a bar. We serve our wide variety of ales straight from the barrels kept in our tap room which is the hub of the pub. We not only serve high quality ales, but we also offer an old fashioned menu using locally sourced food, which always proves popular.”

Mr Wilson, who has managed the pub for nearly three years, added they were extremely pleased and proud to be shortlisted for the Country Life awards.

“We've won many nationwide awards over the years. This achievement will cheer everyone up, especially with winter just around the corner.”

Mr Wilson added: “People often use the word unique to describe the pub and that's exactly right. It as if time has stood still and everything has remained exactly how it should.”

Mark Hedges, editor of Country Life, said: “The quality of entries for the Country Life Awards has been uplifting. It is a delight to be celebrating those who keep countryside culture alive.”

The Kings Head Inn has also been recommended by the Good Pub Guide and the Real Ale Pub Guide.

The County Life Awards celebrates the role of enterprising individuals and businesses in the countryside and the contributions they make to local communities.