Highgate’s The Red Lion and Sun has been named pub of the year at the annual Great British Pub awards.

The North Road watering hole scooped the top prize at the awards, which are known as the “pub industry Oscars”.

The awards, held by industry publication the Morning Advertiser, also saw the Red Lion and Sun named the country’s best wine pub.

Judges commended the pub for its “great wine list and whisky galore, not to mention its exceptional food”.

Heath Ball, landlord at the Red Lion and Sun, said: “When I bought the pub 10 years ago, I had a vision of creating a proper pub.

“It helps that I’m a big fan of wine and spend a lot of my spare time researching, drinking wine and visiting vineyards.

“But getting recognition like this really endorses what we do and the love we show for our wine.”