An Oxfordshire pub company has been recognised for its actions to reduce its impact on climate change and help people to make more sustainable choices when eating out.

Peach, which runs five pubs in the county including The Fishes in Oxford, The Fleece in Witney and The Thatch in Thame, has been awarded a Three Star Food Made Good rating by the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

The North Aston-based business completed a detailed assessment of the sustainability of the business in 10 key areas.

These ranged from putting local and seasonal produce on its menus and sourcing fish responsibly to treating the people who cook in its kitchens and run its bars fairly and eliminating food waste.

The pubs' support for the community, especially during lockdown when they did voluntary work, cooked takeaways for local residents and prepared and delivered free meals to frontline NHS workers, was singled out.

"It's fantastic news, and doubly significant after what has been a year like no other for the hospitality industry," says Peach managing director Hamish Stoddart.

"We are hugely proud that what we have been doing to be a better business and put the planet first have been recognised in this way," he said.

Juliane Caillouette-Noble, managing firector of the SRA, said: “By being the first pub business to complete the Food Made Good sustainability rating after the pandemic and additionally achieving Three Stars, Peach truly is demonstrating to its customers, staff and industry colleagues that it is 100 per cent committed to serving up a better food future.”