Scottish Tourism Oscars – we’re winners!

We’re celebrating this week at the Cross Keys Inn as we’re super proud to have won Best Pub at the Scottish Thistle Awards 2023 – the tourism industry’s Oscars! Every year, a small number of businesses are honoured with one of these awards which are the highest accolade in the Scottish hospitality, tourism and events sector. And we’re over the moon that this year, it’s us!

Rory and Vicki picking up the Scottish Thistles Best Pub award in Glasgow!


This award really is the best way to finish our first year of opening. It follows us being crowned Best Pub in the South of Scotland in October. Being recognised by our industry peers and leaders as well as with all the hearty congratulations we’ve received from our regulars, makes all the work very worthwhile.

From the beginning we have been inspired by the wonderful, welcoming community of Ettrickbridge and much of what we do is led by the locals themselves. While a very small village, it is blessed with an incredible sense of Scottish community and is jam-packed with extraordinary creative talents. And we’re committed to building on this. We believe that by being a warm, welcoming hub for villagers, we will provide an even bigger warm Scottish Borders welcome for our visitors from neighbouring towns and further afield.

And so with our Scottish Thistles 2023 Best Pub award taking pride of place in the bar, we hope there will be many more to come in the coming years.


Thank you to everyone, especially our A-team of staff, who helped us pick up such an awesome accolade and put the Cross Keys Inn back on the map. We’re delighted to fly the flag for the South of Scotland and are excited for what 2024 brings our wee village pub!