"The pub's in safe hands" - Hertfordshirelandlord Christo Tofalli is a finalist for national Tourism Superstar award
Christo Tofalli, the landlord of Hertfordshire pub Ye Olde Fighting Cocks', has beat off competition from hundreds of candidates up and down the country to become only one of ten finalists for the national Tourism Superstar award.
Christo, who has run the pub in St Albans - reputed to be the oldest in the country - since 2012, is now up against nine others to win the coveted award in the competition, which is run by Visit England and sponsored by the Mirror newspaper, and which has been celebrating the unsung heroes of the staycation tourism industry for seven years. Christo is the only Hertfordshire finalist in this competition.
The competition organisers said: "We're looking for people who far exceed the call of duty to ensure visitors have an amazing experience, whether it's on a day trip or a holiday."
"Christo took over the oldest pub in the country in 2012 when it was struggling to attract visitors and has put it back on the map.
"He has turned the fortunes of this pub around, re-establishing it as an important landmark as well as a fantastic pub/ restaurant, while banging the drum for the city and UK tourism too.
"The pub now regularly attracts visitors from as far afield as the USA and Australia. This building of historic significance is in safe hands."
Christo said: "I am delighted to have made the shortlist for this national award - it's a huge honour to be nominated of behalf of the team. It's not just me that welcomes people with a smile. I am particularly pleased for our incredible City and for the county. We are just one of the jewels in the crown of historic St Albans and we just try our best here to run a fantastic pub to do justice to this wonderful location. We want to give everyone a cracking welcome - so they come back, not only to the pub but also to Hertfordshire."
You can vote for Christo here:
https://www.visitbritain.org/tourism-superstar-2018
And, you could win a week's holiday at a luxury cottage or a weekend break to London just for joining in.
Voting closes at midnight on March 20.
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About Ye Olde Fighting Cocks
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks won the St Albans Food and Drink Festival's award for BEST PUB in 2017, as well as the Hertfordshire Tourism award for RAISING THE BAR (Tourism Pub of the Year).
Landlord Christo Tofalli took the pub over in April 2012 and has turned it around in the last two years from a struggling business into one of the most popular local pubs in the area as well as a successful tourist attraction, bringing visitors from the US and Australia into St Albans.
History:The pub you can see today was built in the 11th Century, but the foundations of Ye Olde Fighting Cocks date back to the 8th Century, around 793 (making it 1,222 years old). The pub was originally built on these early Saxon ecclesiastical foundations near St Albans Abbey (now the Cathedral) and was moved to its present site after the dissolution of the Abbey in 1539.
It is reputed that Oliver Cromwell, subsequently Lord Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658, slept at the inn for one night during the Civil War of 1642-1651.
The main structure is free-standing and has an octagonal appearance, attributable to its earliest use as a pigeon house. It has been added to over the years but the original timber-framed structure is clearly visible. The octagonal half-timbered structure was once a medieval dovecote. You will notice that as with many old buildings the inn has quite low ceilings as well as intriguing nooks and crannies. There is an original bread oven next to the main fireplace.
It is reputed that there are tunnels stretching from the beer cellar to the Abbey, apparently frequented by the monks of that time. Cock fighting was a national pastime in England for 600 years from the reign of Henry the Second up to and through the reigns of the three Georges and it is thought that the Cock Pit - about 8ft wide and 10ft long - was brought down from the Abbey when the original name ‘The Round House' was changed to ‘Ye Olde Fighting Cocks' until cock fighting as a sport was banned in 1849, when the pub name was changed to ‘The Fisherman'. However it has been known officially as ‘Ye Olde Fighting Cocks since 1872.
http://www.yeoldefightingcocks.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/YeOldeFightingCocks
https://twitter.com/FightingCocksSA