The fifth annual Countryside Alliance Awards, nicknamed the Rural Oscars, were launched last September and attracted a record 2.500 nominations from across Britain. The Awards run across four categories: local food; village shop/ Post Office; enterprise and traditional business. Regional winners were declared in December and those winners went forward to the grand final, judged by Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Simon Hart along with Clarissa Dickson Wright, Farmers Guardian Editor Emma Penny, Daily Telegraph commentator Charlie Brooks and British Food Fortnight Director Alexia Robinson.

Simon Hart announced the winners at the grand final, held at the House of Lords, which was attended by all regional winners and supportive Parliamentarians. Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Simon Hart read out the citation, explaining why the Greyhound raced ahead of the competition at the Rural Oscars:

"The winner in this category is Grizebeck's Greyhound pub, up in the beautiful Lake District. A unique initiative, this is a community-run pub which I think can provide a model for other struggling village pubs. Rather than see their local pub falter, Grizebeck's locals pulled together and saved it. This is especially impressive when you consider how many local pubs are closing every month. Initially run totally by volunteers, it is now once again a thriving traditional village pub which forms the centre of the community, running events such as quiz and music nights and serving local produce. Saving the Greyhound has brought together people from different parts of the local area to work with a common focus, and in doing so they have saved something which, if lost, may never have been revived."

In collecting their Award, committee member Ian Carruthers made the assembled businessmen and Parliamentarians laugh by saying the committee hopes to buy the pub this year and donations would therefore be very welcome!