Food & Drink, Wimborne | Posted on January 2nd, 2026 | return to news

MP announces her Pub of the Year: The Old Inn, Holt

Vikki Slade, Member of Parliament for Mid Dorset and North Poole, has announced The Old Inn, Holt as the winner of her Pub of the Year competition.

The competition was launched to highlight the importance of pubs and the significant challenges facing the hospitality sector, with pubs across the UK continuing to close at an alarming rate. Vikki Slade said her competition celebrated the vital role local pubs play in community life.

Upon the announcement on 22 December, Vikki explained that The Old Inn was selected not only for its strong community spirit, welcoming atmosphere and role as a valued local hub, but also because it received a very high number of public votes, demonstrating the strength of local support for the pub.

Vikki visited The Old Inn to present the Pub of the Year certificate to the pub’s owner, Connor Wiltshire-Hall, who was also presented with a House of Commons’ bottle opener to mark the occasion.

“The Old Inn is exactly what a great local pub should be — welcoming, community-focused and at the heart of village life,” said Vikki Slade MP.

“At a time when pubs are under huge pressure, places like The Old Inn show just how important these spaces are for bringing people together. I was delighted to present Connor with this award and to thank him for everything he and his team do for the local community.”

She mentioned that she has consistently raised concerns in Parliament about the impact of rising costs and government policy on pubs and hospitality businesses.

“The Pub of the Year competition,” she said forms part of her wider work to celebrate local businesses while continuing to press the Government “to take urgent action to support a sector that plays a crucial social, cultural and economic role in Mid Dorset and North Poole.”

In 2025 Britain was facing the prospect of a pub closing every day with industry figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) revealing that 378 closures were expected across England, Wales and Scotland.

According to the BBPA there were 350 pub closures in 2024.