A POTTERS Bar man and his family have scooped a prestigious award for the fine dining on offer at their pub.

Luke Spyrou, 27, lived with his mum Carolyn, and dad Vaggy, both 51, in Dugdale Hill Lane, for “18 to 19 years” before leaving to run The Golden Boar Inn in Freckenham, Suffolk.

The move was a leap into the unknown for the family, who had not been in the pub trade before, but it was a long-held ambition of Luke’s father to run his own pub.

The gastro-pub has now just been voted the best fine dining restaurant in Newmarket, Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding areas by the readers of Velvet Magazine, a local lifestyle publication.

Luke told the Potters Bar Edition: “I was ecstatic when I found out we’d won. We were up against some real top restaurants round here. We’ve been up here three years and have finally got some recognition.”

He added: “Winning the award is something we are very proud of.”

The inn specialises in ‘modern European’ cuisine, with seasonal dishes like pork, lamb, venison and steaks, as well as pub grub like fish and chips and bangers and mash.

Luke explained that the magazine’s quest to find the best fine dining restaurant lasted around a month, and was voted for by readers, who sampled food at a dozen eateries as well as The Golden Boar.

When the votes were collated it was clear that Luke’s hostelry had come out on top.

The family also took Enfield head chef Sergio Neal with them to cook at the restaurant after a number of stints working in hotel kitchens in London’s West End.