City centre bar Leila Lily's is celebrating after being named a winner at a national awards ceremony.

The bar-restaurant which opened in Newcastle 's Grey Street in 2019 was singled out at the National Pub & Bar Awards on Monday night.

The venue, which last year won an AA rosette for 'culinary excellence' less than six months after it opened followed by a design accolade, this time impressed judges at the annual awards which honour the UK's best pubs and bars.

Read more: the creation of Leila Lily's

Leila Lily's, a flagship business owned by the well-known Malhotra Group, was one of 15 regional winners, taking the North East crown.

And Atul Malhotra, who created the venue and named it after his daughter, is delighted at its success.

A post on Leila Lily's Facebook page said: "We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have been awarded North East bar of the year 2021."

Thanking customers and staff, it praised their support and hard work, adding: "Most importantly our special little girl, Miss Leila Lily who inspired our gorgeous venue."

The awards, hosted by restaurant critic Grace Dent, also named the Galvin Green Man, one of the oldest pubs in Essex and run by Michelin star brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin, as the overall winner, awarding it the Bar of the Year title for first class food, drink, service and all-round experience.

The awards, held in London, were attended by 94 venues which previously had been named best in their county and from which 15 pubs were named as the best in their county.

Leila Lily's shortlisted rivals were The Craster Arms in Northumberland and Grannie Annie's Pub and Pantry in Durham.

Extra accolades on the night included Pub Brand of the Year which went to JD Wetherspoon scooped and Bar Brand of the Year which was awarded to The Alchemist. Here are all 15 pub and bar winners.

The National Pub & Bar Awards 2021 Winners

East Midlands – The Tollemache Arms, Harrington

East of England – Galvin Green Man, Chelmsford

London – The Gun, Spitalfields

North East – Leila Lily's, Newcastle

North West – The Church Inn, Mobberley

Northern Ireland – Tomney’s Bar, Dungannon

North West Scotland – The Plockton Hotel, Highlands

North East Scotland – The Criterion, St Andrews

South East Scotland – No.1 The Grange, Edinburgh

South West Scotland – The Steamboat Inn, Dumfries

South East – The Wiremill, Lingfield

South West – The Wheatsheaf, Northleach

Wales – Hare & Hounds, Aberthin

West Midlands – The Flyford, Flyford Flavell

Yorkshire and the Humber – The Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax

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