A YORK pub has been included in a piece of artwork celebrating famous alehouses.

Whisky brand The Famous Grouse has revealed a one-metre-high replica statue of their icon, the red grouse, decorated head to toe in illustrations by renowned Scottish artist Johanna Basford.

One of the iconic pubs included on the giant bird is The Kings Arms in York. Ironically, the pub made famous for its flooding and its need to store all items of value above 6ft to avoid water damage does not stock Famous Grouse.

It was voted into the top 30 by Facebook fans, who put The Bear in Somerset, the meeting place for Discworld Emporium devotees and occasionally frequented by Sir Terry Pratchett, at the top of the list.

Landlords will receive a framed illustration to display in their bar, and the statue will go on tour.

Gerry O’Donnell, director of The Famous Grouse, said: “The Famous Grouse has been the best-selling whisky in Scotland for the past 30 years. To celebrate we wanted to reward the top 30 pubs from The Famous Grouse Famous 100 that are voted as having the best claims to fame.

“What better way to do this than by displaying these illustrations on our very own Famous Grouse statue?”