A BUSINESS analyst who quit his job to become a rural landlord has scooped a top award for the best pub in Britain.

Peter Tiley of the Salutation Inn in the small village of Ham, Gloucestershire, won the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) National Pub of the Year Award.

Mr Tiley had never even pulled a pint when he decided to quit his job in London and follow his love of beer to take over the pub with his wife Claire.

Eleven months later the pub had won its local branch competition – and then a regional award before being named Britain's overall National Pub of the Year.

"Pubs are so important to me that to have our own one recognised in this way is just amazing," said Mr Tiley, who admitted he was "totally shell-shocked" by the award.

Pubs are judged by Camra on a variety of criteria including atmosphere, level of service, value for money and community focus – and the quality of their real ale, cider and perry.

Being named the overall Pub of the Year was a massive achievement for any landlord, let alone a couple who had never run a pub before, said Camra director Abigail Newton.

"They have hit the ground running and taken what was already a great pub and made it truly exceptional – beating off over 50,000 other landlords from across the UK."

Some 29 pubs close very week – many of them in rural areas. But well-run pubs play an invaluable role at the heart of their local communities.

Camra research suggests that 84% of people believe a decent pub is as essential to community life as a shop or post office. Despite their popularity, pubs are currently under threat as never before.

A combination of factors has led to more and more pub owners shutting down pubs and seeking to convert the buildings to other uses.

But there are good examples of communities successfully supporting their local pub and many hostelries, such as the Salutation Inn, are thriving.