A CHESTER city centre pub has been nominated for a top national award.

The Great British Pub Awards 2022, said to be 'the Oscars of the pub industry', has revealed the finalists in all categories for this year's event.

And making it to the final six in the 'Best Pub for Entertainment' section is The Saddle Inn, aka The Saddle, in Grosvenor Street, Chester.

The Saddle regularly plays host to rock bands on Saturday nights, with acoustic bands playing on Sundays, plus karaoke and open-mic nights during the week.

Writing on social media, The Saddle responded to the news: "Absolutely ecstatic to announce that we are national finalists for the Great British Pub Awards…which are considered to be the Oscars of the pub industry!

"We’re honoured to have been recognised and to have already gotten so far in the competition. It’s a huge accolade for us whatever the final result and we couldn’t be prouder right now making all the hard work, long hours, blood, sweat and tears all the more worth it.

"We are one of six finalists for the category Best Pub for Entertainment, which is our whole USP at The Saddle, an area we most definitely excel in so hopefully we’re in with a good chance.

"Final interviews, visits and judging is to take place over the next couple of months with the winner announced in October.

"But for now it’s business as usual and we just gotta keep doing what we do best but with our fingers tightly crossed."

The final of this year's Great British Pub Awards will be held at Escape to Freight Island in Manchester on Tuesday, October 4.

Organisers say they had received a record number of entrants and are aiming to make this year's event the 'biggest and most ambitious' awards yet.

For more information on the awards, visit greatbritishpubawards.co.uk and for more information on The Saddle, visit https://www.thesaddleinnchester.co.uk/