THE Hardwick, in Abergavenny, has been named as the seventh-best gastropub in the UK.

The Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list is compiled from votes by experts in the food and hospitality industry.

According to the awards website: “Votes are cast in a poll of hundreds of industry experts, including top chefs, food writers, pubco chiefs, pub-guide editors and top suppliers to bring you this definitive list of the best gastropubs in Britain.”

Hardwick chef Stephen Terry was delighted to hear his pub had made the list. “Wow – I’ve just picked myself up off the floor,” he wrote in a post on Twitter.

“That’s amazing. Thank you to all of our staff that tolerate me in particular and thank you to those who voted for us.” In its appraisal of the pub, the judges said: “The Hardwick’s menu is hugely comprehensive, which doesn’t make for an easy task. However, the pub’s hard work pays off with customers visiting for old favourites and new dishes alike.”

The Hardwick was the only Welsh pub to make the list.

And Earlier this week, Mr Terry was among 16 top chefs who cooked at an event for Ty Hafan, which raised more than £150,000 for the children’s hospice.

Held every two years, Chefs’ Night Out brings together a number of the country’s finest chefs to cook a four-course menu per table with matched wines for 160 guests.

David Loosemore and Huw Edwards started Chefs’ Night Out back in 2010 to raise funds for the hospice and the support it provides for families. So far the events have raised nearly £800,000.

Sara Webber, associate director at Tŷ Hafan, said: “A huge thank you to David and Huw who, through their dedication and commitment, have raised a staggering amount of money for Tŷ Hafan.

“It costs over £4million each year to run our hospice, delivering our broad community programmes and providing round the clock specialist care 365 days a year. But we simply couldn’t provide our lifeline services to the families that need them so much without the fabulous fundraising efforts of people like David and Huw, the chefs and, of course, everyone who took part in the evening and gave so generously.”