A west Fife pub has been hailed as one of the best in the UK according to a new ranking published, just days after it was handed an award by a national campaign group.

The Hillend Tavern near Dalgety Bay has been named in the Daily Mail's Top 100 Best Pubs in Britain,

The list was compiled by a panel of industry experts, with input from Tom Parker-Bowles, Raymond Blanc, Michel Roux Jr and Prue Leith.

The nod comes not long after The Tav was named Scottish Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), for the second time in a row.

The CAMRA award was presented recently in the tavern.

Staff member Chris Evenden said: “It was absolutely fabulous. A lot of campaign for real ale members turned up and quite a lot of regulars as well. We’re going to need a bigger wall for all the certificates soon.”

He might not be wrong about wall space, seeing as this is the sixth time that the tavern has received the award.

Chris said: “The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) members come in and judge the ales on a regular basis actually. We get new people in all the time who have the good beer guide. It lists the pubs across Britain with all the real ales, and people travel all over the country looking to visit every single one of them, it’s great.”

Chris has even known somebody to travel all the way from Wales to visit the tavern.

He said: “The sole purpose of the visit was to come here. A lot of these people are retired, and this is their passion.”

Among the highlights mentioned in the Daily Mail rankings, the Tav's dog-friendly atmosphere was noted, along with a passion for supporting local sports teams, and of course their cask ales.

The Mail article also said: "There’s a covered beer garden in the summer and toasty coal fires in winter; a swanky gastropub it isn’t but this is just perfect if you’re a pub purist. 

Speaking about what makes the tavern’s ales stand out, Chris said: “It’s a lot to do with the temperature, the customer service, and how the pub is in general. It’s not an easy task to look after the ale as it can be quite temperamental.

“If we’ve got a new ale on and someone’s never tried it, we give them a little taste instead of them buying a pint they might not drink. We really want them to enjoy the beer as well as the atmosphere of the pub.

“I’ve been coming in in since I was 18 as a customer and working and the change it makes to the place is amazing.”

A representative of CAMRA said: “From the moment you walk into The Hillend Tavern you are made to feel welcome. Nobody is stranger in there. It feels like your local on the very first visit. It is a well-kept pub with very well-kept ale and a very friendly team running it.

“Mike and Francesca must be credited for building that team and the atmosphere that goes with it.”