The Princess at Rawdon has reached the finals of the Best British Pub Awards 2007 in two categories - for having the best beer garden and landlords David and Claire Smith as being best newcomers to the trade in the Yorkshire and North East region.

Next week the couple will travel to London to attend the annual awards ceremony to learn whether they and their pub will be voted national champions in both categories, competing in each against seven other pubs from all over the UK.

David and Claire took over The Princess two years ago - both having given up successful careers in the banking business. Says Claire: "It was a huge risk for two people with no experience of the pub trade. When we came here the pub was very run down and takings were just £2,000 a week which was a poor return bearing in mind the rent was £670 a week."

The couple invested an initial £40,000 in the business in return for Punch Taverns agreeing to an initial rent reduction.

Slowly but surely, hard work and enthusiasm coupled with motivation and self-belief began to pay off. Regulars who had deserted the once popular pub returned and new customers started visiting for food.

Today, turnover is now £7,000 a week and the Princess is one of the jewels' in the Tetley Pub Company's estate.

Last summer with a personal £15,000 investment the Smiths converted the then overgrown rubbish tip' back yard into the now award-winning popular courtyard beer garden.

The flagged patio has room for seven cast-iron tables with parasols and some with heaters, provides seating for 32 people. Discreet lighting, a water feature, hanging baskets, shrubbery and foliage complete the transformation.

"With the smoking ban coming into force in July we felt it was an ideal opportunity to develop the back yard into something special and it has already reaped rich rewards thanks to last summer's warm weather," says David who was with Lloyds TSB bank for 30 years, many as manager of a local branch, with his wife working as a PA in the same bank's regional office.

Commenting on their accolades Claire said "We had a dream of developing a really good pub for locals and we are proud of what we have achieved and the seal of approval we have received through these awards."