Pub regulars are being asked to nominate their favourite drinking hole for a community award.For the second year running, South Norfolk Council is organising its Community Pub of the Year Award to celebrate and recognise the contribution that pubs make to villages and communities.

Pub regulars are being asked to nominate their favourite drinking hole for a community award.

For the second year running, South Norfolk Council is organising its Community Pub of the Year Award to celebrate and recognise the contribution that pubs make to villages and communities.

However, this year there is a change as it will be down to the public to decide which pub should win the top prize of �1,000 for a community event.

South Norfolk Council's deputy leader Martin Wilby, who is on the judging panel overseeing proceedings, said: 'We know how much you value your community pubs and this is your chance to show them your support by voting for them.'

Communities will be able to vote from June 4 by text, online, or by post and beer mats and posters will be displayed in all the pubs taking part.

The top five pubs from each of the council's five neighbourhood areas will then go through to a semi-final, where the public will get another chance to have their say.

Mr Wilby said: 'To vote for your favourite pub in the semi-finals, you must visit it and put a voting slip in a ballot box at the bar.

'We hope that pubs and communities will really get behind the competition and pubs taking part will see a boost in trade.'

Once the votes are in, the top five pubs, one from each neighbourhood area, will go through to the final stage of the competition.

Last year's winner was the Pelican Inn at Tacolneston.

Landlady Esther Maginn said: 'Since the smoking ban many pubs have become more welcoming, friendly, clean establishments where all different communities can come together and enjoy.

"The award has raised challenges of how our pub can improve for the benefit of the community which can only be a wonderful thing.

"Being recognised for our innovative ideas in business has been inspiring. We have improved our game, again this year. Since winning, we feel we have pushed our diverse business forward, we have once again embarked on many new ideas and events for our customers to enjoy. The grand opening of our new outside bar and grill is looming, and our new local real ale shop, supporting all 31 Norfolk breweries is a welcoming idea and has been well supported at the success of our May Beer Festival.

'A competition where the public nominate their favourite pub is an excellent challenge, and we at the Pelican wish everyone that enters as much success and recognition as we have had. We can only promote the competition by saying let the voting begin.'

Each of the five neighbourhood finalists will have ballot boxes at the ready for a special weekend of voting.

All the scores from the previous rounds will then be added to the judges' scores.

And the pub with the best overall score will be crowned as South Norfolk's Community Pub of the Year.

To vote for your pub of the year go online at www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/pubs or text the word PUB to 80010 and tell the council which pub should win and why. This is charged at standard network rate.

All nominations must be received by June 30.