A CHURCH Hill pub has been crowned Redditch’s Community Pub Hero and is now in with a chance of winning a national award.

The Oast House, run by licensee Emma Firth, received the most nominations of any pub in Redditch and the villages as part of MP Rachel Maclean’s search for a Community Pub Hero.

Residents from across the constituency nominated their local, but it was the Oast House that came out on top with Emma and her team being praised for supporting the community and for the money they’ve raised for local charities.

This is the second time the Oast House has won this award, claiming the top prize in 2020 after winning the vote.

As well as being crowned as Redditch’s Community Pub Hero, Ms Maclean has nominated the Oast House for a prestigious award organised by PubAid and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group.

Emma Firth said: “I’m absolutely over the moon. I can't believe we have won it again!”

“We are a family at the Oast House. We have a great family and community spirit, so the award is deserved just not by ourselves, but the whole Oast House family.”

Rachel Maclean said the pubs in Redditch and the villages are ‘at the heart of their communities’.

She added: “Congratulations to the Oast House who received the most nominations of any pub in the constituency and for being crowned Redditch’s Community Pub Hero.

“I’ve now put them forward as Redditch’s nomination for the prestigious Community Pub Hero Award. The Oast House will now be competing against pubs from across the UK. Best of luck to them!”

On November 21, judges from PubAid and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group will review the entries received, creating a shortlist of finalists before the overall winner is crowned at a ceremony early next year.