The George and Dragon, Abergele, has won an influential award at the PubAid’s Community Pub Hero Awards 2025.

Michelle Partington and Kevin Jones, bar manager, from the pub were at the ceremony in the Houses of Commons to accept the award for being the best Community Support Hero, Wales alongside MP Gill German. 

The pub saw competition from almost 700 entries nationwide for the prestigious pub industry awards, now in their sixth year. 

This Community Support Hero Wales Award recognises licensees who help their communities and pubs who are good neighbours to their local community. Two other pubs in Wales were also finalists; Llew Gwyn (White Lion), Cerrigydrudion, and Tafarn yr Iorwerth, Anglesey, were also shortlisted. 

The pub won because the judges were impressed by how the pub’s reputation had completely changed within a short space of time. Michelle’s dedication to the community clearly shines through as she provides free meals for those who need something warm; especially the elderly. 

PubAid judges said: “This is our toughest category which receives the most number of entries and extremely high calibre entries so it’s a huge achievement to win as the competition really is phenomenal.”

The George and Dragon also provides a free three course Christmas dinner for kids, the elderly living on their own, women and children from the local refuge and homeless people. This also included Christmas presents and selection boxes for all. They started a Monday Club for individuals living on their own who want to meet new friends and work closely with local charities and projects so truly showed how they add so much to their local community in a variety of ways. 

Local MP, Gill German, said: “I loved meeting Michelle from the George and Dragon in Abergele along with Ursula and Graham, from the Yacht in Pensarn, at the final of the PubAid Community Pub Hero Awards. Having two pubs within walking distance of each other reach the final was a real tribute to the level of community support pubs in Clwyd North offer.

“I was absolutely delighted to be there to congratulate Michelle in person when the George and Dragon won the Community Support Hero Wales award. 

“Pubs play a key role in supporting our communities and seeing what Michelle and her team do locally is absolutely heart-warming. I can’t wait to join them again to help celebrate this success when I am back in the constituency.”

The winners were announced at an award ceremony, sponsored by Matthew Clark, at the Houses of Parliament on 4 March and all shortlisted pubs were invited to attend along with industry leaders and MPs. 

Des O’Flanagan, co-founder of PubAid, added: “We launched these awards to celebrate the great work that pubs do for their community. The George and Dragon is a perfect example of how pubs and licensed premises support and are a hub for many people in their community. What clearly came across from reading all the entries is that there are so many people that are doing amazing work nationwide.”