The Rutland pub that helped spearhead the campaign to protect the county's historic status has been named a finalist in a prestigious national pub award.

The George & Dragon in Seaton has been shortlisted for the Community Support Hero Award in PubAid's Community Pub Hero Awards 2026, sponsored by Diageo and supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group.

The awards celebrate pubs across the UK that go above and beyond for the communities they serve, with the Community Support Hero category specifically recognising pubs that make an outstanding contribution to their local area.

The George & Dragon was put forward by Rutland and Stamford MP Alicia Kearns after playing a central role in the campaign to protect Rutland's ceremonial county status amid local government reorganisation.

The pub joined forces with Alicia and local campaigner Charlie Pallett to launch the #SaveRutland petition, becoming a focal point for the campaign and helping to rally local people behind the fight to protect the county's identity.

The petition went on to secure over 7000 signatures and became one of the largest physical petitions presented to Parliament.

The George & Dragon has now been selected as one of just six pubs across England competing for the Community Support Hero title.

Des O'Flanagan, co-founder of PubAid, said: "The George & Dragon is a fantastic example of what we mean when we talk about pubs being at the heart of their communities.

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"This wasn't simply a pub supporting a local campaign, it helped provide a place and a voice for people to come together around something that matters enormously to Rutland.

"The standard of entries this year was incredibly high, so reaching the final is a real achievement and recognition of the contribution the pub and the team make to their community."

The George & Dragon will join finalists from across the UK at a special House of Commons reception on Tuesday 8 September, where the 2026 Community Pub Hero Award winners will be announced.

The awards are organised by PubAid, which champions the positive contribution pubs make to communities across the UK.

For more information visit https://www.pubaid.co.uk/community-pub-hero-awards/