Less than a year after re-opening, staff and regulars of a Wishaw pub are raising a glass after being nominated for a top award.
The Waverley has been a well-known Wishaw watering hole for decades but had went through tough times due to the pandemic.
However, thanks to the hard work of new owners David and Frances Smith and their staff, the pub is now one of four finalists in the running to scoop the Sunday Mail Pub of the Year award at this year's Scottish Bar and Pub Awards.
And it will be a good showing for the Lanarkshire hospitality industry at the awards, with Artisan in Wishaw and Hamilton Palace also in the running for awards.
It has been a whirlwind year for David and Frances who bought the pub in November last year despite having no experience of working in the industry.
David told Lanarkshire Live : “Our first night opening was November 5 so it’s been a whirlwind nine months.
“I work in the oil industry and Frances has a job as well but we are as hands-on as we can be and our manager Helen MacKenzie has been first class as have all the staff.
“We live in Wishaw and I grew up in Motherwell so I remember The Waverley being really busy every weekend with live music.
“We wanted to get that consistency back and that’s what we have done, we have live entertainment on every weekend.
“We have a great clientele and we are seeing more women, couples and people who haven’t crossed the door of the pub in years coming back to us.
“It’s been brilliant and to get this level of recognition, considering how many pubs there are in Scotland, is unbelievable.”
For any business you are only as good as the people who work for you and David was fullsome in his praise for the hard-working Waverley team.
He added: “The staff have been great, I’m lucky enough that our staff are committed and have great interaction with our customers.
“Helen and the team have been superb and that’s what makes the pub a success.
"The staff are great and keep our customers happy.”
Elsewhere, the owner of Artisan Bar and Restaurant in Wishaw, has also been shortlisted for an award.
An expert in all things whisky, with one of the world's biggest whisky collections to boot, Derek Mather has been nominated for the Whisky Guru of the Year award for the second year running.
Artisan has also being nominated for Whisky Bar of the Year.
Derek told Lanarkshire Live : "It is a real honour to be nominated for both awards again.
"To be recognised with a nomination for something I consider a hobby is a privilege.
"And these awards are based on public feedback, which just shows that we are leaving our customers satisfied with our knowledge of whisky.
"When I first started collecting and drinking whisky there were only maybe six or seven drams available in the supermarkets you could buy.
"There is so much out there now for people to try and enjoy and I think that is a great thing, especially as an avid collector."
Alongside Artisan and The Waverly, Hamilton Palace manager Connor Smith has been nominated for Manager of the year, making it a good showing for the Lanarkshire hospitality industry.
Nominees will find out if they have been successful at a glitzy awards bash at The Doubletree Glasgow Central on August 30.
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