A PUB dog has won a £1,000 prize for his owner after a TikTok video showing him cleaning up the pub won a national competition.
Barney throws cups into the bin, wipes tables, fetches a mop and bucket and even rides a skateboard while working at the Spyglass and Kettle in Southbourne.
Now his owner, assistant manager Rani Rodrigues, has been presented with the prize by pub chain Greene King.
The company launched a talent show to celebrate the hidden talents of its staff and keep them engaged during pub closures.
It was judged in three categories with cocker spaniel Barney picking up the top prize in the pets section.
And he dressed up for the special occasion wearing a dinner jacket and bow tie to watch events unfold at the virtual awards ceremony.
Rani said: “It’s brilliant to win. Barney is a working cocker spaniel and when I got him eight years ago he was a nightmare with so much energy. At the time we went to dog training at K9 Training & Advisory Centre and it was the only thing that mentally tired him out.
“We put in a lot of time back then – usually about four hours a week and we still do now. He’s still just as energetic. It’s great to have got recognition for all the work we’ve done. I’ll treat him to a steak.
“He’s our official pub dog at the Spyglass & Kettle and is so popular with our customers.”
The final was held virtually on May 5 after hundreds of talented Greene King entrants from across the country were whittled down to three category winners.
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Almost 2,000 people were tuned in on the night for the event presented by TV and radio presenter Rezzy Ghadjar and Greene King CEO Nick Mackenzie.
With the talent show having three categories of pets, variety and music for people to enter, 300 entries were viewed by the judging panels, made up of Greene King’s executive board.
A shortlist of finalists was then put to a vote via the Greene King employee app Kingdom in the lead-up to the awards, with the winner of each category winning a £1,000 prize.
The event raised vital funds on the night for the Greene King pub chain’s charity partner Macmillan Cancer Support.
Nick Mackenzie said afterwards: “This was an amazing way to end what we hope is our final lockdown.”
You can watch Barney cleaning up bar at the Spyglass and Kettle at bournemouthecho.co.uk
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