The Myrtle Tavern in Meanwood has claimed the prestigious title of ‘Best Pub Garden’ at the Great British Pub Awards 2024.
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00:00I'd probably say we do have the best flowers, plants, trees, all natural as well and all
00:05done by us.
00:07Scott Westlake is the publican of the Myrtle Tavern in Meanwood, which has claimed the
00:11prestigious title of Best Pub Garden at the Great British Pub Awards 2024.
00:17Owned by Stonegate Group and leased by Scott, the venue's garden has been a labour of love
00:21for the team who are delighted with the win.
00:23I've been here nearly 14 years now, 2011 when we first took it, it was one of the world's
00:29first pubs that was nearly shut.
00:30So there was a lot of work to do, especially the first four or five years of hard work
00:33trying to build it, refurbished inside, added a new kitchen, we then attacked the garden.
00:39So the garden's probably been a work in progress since about 2020, did a lot of it during the
00:43lockdown, so that was what kind of kept us busy whilst we were forced to shut.
00:47We started up here with these rockers, put the rabbits in, and then the past two years
00:52the main garden down there, which holds about 420 people sat down, you've probably got 800
00:56people on it.
00:57I've added a marquee to it, building a pagoda at the moment, and it's just a work in progress
01:02really.
01:03But I'd probably say 99% there now.
01:04So when we found out we'd been nominated through, we didn't even expect to become finalists
01:07because there was a final six out of however many were in there.
01:11So once we got the finalists in, we were just buzzing with that.
01:13And then when we went to the awards, the competition is big, like there was a place in Salford
01:17which was just unreal, we looked a bit different to ours, and then when we got there, we kind
01:22of went expecting to just go for a party and be a finalist.
01:26And then when we got announced, we were all very shocked, but pleased at the same time.
01:30There's myself, there's my dad, there's his brother Mick, and then there's a girl called
01:33Helen that works here, Heather, like Charlie, who put things in.
01:36So our own bar staff or kitchen staff will come out and spend like one day, maybe two
01:42days a month doing all the gardening that requires doing, so there's a lot of love that's
01:46in it.
01:47The garden will be done for Christmas as well, so we try and use it all year round.
01:52We've got like three big December events utilising the outdoor space, it's a shame for it not
01:56to be seen all year round.