Revealed - the winner of the T&A's Best Pub 2024 contest

The Woodlands Hotel, in Mill Carr Hill Road, in Oakenshaw has taken the top prize after battling it out against nine other finalists.

We received an incredible 6,389 nominations in the initial phases of the contest.

A shortlist of 10 was created from this and readers were invited to pick up a copy of the newspaper and vote for their favourite by sending back a coupon, while the T&A profiled each pub across the past two weeks.

The Woodlands Hotel received the most votes and has come out as number one.

The Woodlands Hotel, in Mill Carr Hill Road, in Oakenshaw (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Lee Marshall, who runs the Punch Taverns pub and is also a chef there, said: “It’s brilliant man, absolutely brilliant.”

There has been a “hype” around the pub during the competition, according to Lee.

He said: “I think for the village, they all wanted it."

The 53-year-old took over 18 months ago and reopened the pub in February 2023 after it had been closed for nine months.

Inside The Woodlands Hotel (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Inside The Woodlands Hotel (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Lee, who is originally from Halifax, admitted he “didn’t know the area” but has vast experience, after starting as a pot washer when he was just a teenager.

Alongside wife Tammy, he has run several restaurants and pubs, as well as cooked for A-list Hollywood stars in the past for their outdoor catering company.

They have earned many awards and accolades over the decades, including a coveted prize for a restaurant in Halifax.

The Woodlands Hotel (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Lee said: “I’m 53, I’ve been doing it since I was 13 – 40 years’ experience.

“We were the first in West Yorkshire to get three AA Rosettes.

“I can offer that to these people, it doesn’t cost me to – it’s in my hands.”

A fresh lick of paint was added to The Woodlands first off and then Lee began to transform the pub into a hotspot, showcasing live entertainment, sport, and fine dining with themed nights.

Lee has won many accolades for his food

The pub's menu and loyalty cards (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Lee said: “This isn’t a bog-standard pub something is going on every day.

“In this day and age, you hear about pubs closing and we’re doing quite well.”

Lee added: “I’m over the moon I’ve actually done this in Bradford.

“Tripadvisor number one, little things like that.

“I tried forever in Halifax to get it. It’s nice customers have voted in their droves.”

But it nearly didn’t happen.

Lee said: “When Punch Taverns showed the pub, I walked away from it because it wasn’t for me. They persuaded me to look inside and it was stunning.

“We do what we do but it’s working.”

Lee has been earmarked for another pub (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Lee’s success has seen him earmarked to take over another Punch pub in Rastrick in September.

But to any of his beloved punters at The Woodlands worrying, Lee has made it clear this does not mean he’s leaving.

It will be a new challenge, but should be beneficial for The Woodlands too, including allowing him to build a “bigger and better team” said Lee.

“I just want to keep going, keep staff happy, every day bringing on challenges for everyone,” he added.