The White Cross named Great Pub Awards finalist

The White Cross in Lancaster has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Best Young Pub Chef’ and ‘Pub of the Year Award’ at the Great British Pub Awards 2022.

The White Cross is set within a refurbished cotton mill warehouse, which was transformed into a pub in the early 2000s. The pub is said to be a central part of the Lancaster community, and licensee, Tim Tomlinson, and the team “provide every guest with a warm welcome”. The pub also has an “extensive” drinks menu which features a selection of regional and local cask ales, fine wines, ciders, and soft drinks. 

Ewan Lawrenson, nominated for ‘Best Young Pub Chef’, is said to deliver high-quality dishes to their customers. He has been with The White Cross since he was 16, working as a kitchen porter and has worked his way up the ladder, gaining experience in a few different restaurants. Lawrenson then returned to The White Cross as a sous chef and was made head chef a year ago.

In addition, the pub food has “evolved” into an offering of freshly cooked top-end pub food with traditional and accessible lunch offerings and a fine dining a la carte evening menu, which includes lamb cannon, poached and roasted cauliflower, and a range of burgers, as well as Sunday roasts.

The awards reportedly recognise pubs, and their teams across the country for their efforts and hard work to make Britain’s pubs great for their communities. Two rounds of judging have already taken place to choose the finalists, and further judging will commence over the summer with pub visits taking place.

The Great British Pub Awards are taking place on Tuesday 4 October 2022 at the Escape to Freight Island in Manchester.

Tim Tomlinson, licensee of The White Cross, said: “I am honoured that The White Cross is shortlisted in two categories at this year’s Great British Pub Awards. I am so proud of Ewan for all his efforts and the progress that he has made in the kitchen. We are always receiving such lovely compliments about our food, and it highlights the hard work that Ewan and our kitchen team carry out every day.

“It is also amazing for the pub to be shortlisted for Stonegate’s Pub of the Year and for all the team’s hard work to receive recognition. The team and I put our all into the pub to make it a welcoming and relaxing environment for everyone. Everything we do at the pub and have already achieved is all because of our wonderful customers, so I would like to say a huge thank you.” 

He added: “The Great British Pub Awards is such a big event for the pub industry, and it is an achievement in itself being nominated within these prestigious awards.”