National Pub of the Year explained

The National Pub of the Year is an annual competition held by CAMRA, the winner of which is announced in the February of the year following that in which the competition is run, that finds the best pub in the UK. Established in 1988, the competition helps to highlight quality pubs around the UK that are worth seeking out and visiting. Each year, each local CAMRA branch nominates one pub in their area to be entered. These 200 pubs then go through to the regional competition, which then whittles down to 4 pubs to go to the national final.

The pubs in the national final are evaluated on:

• Quality of the Real Ales served
• Value for money
• Atmosphere
• Interior decoration
• Customer service and welcome

Winners

• 2023: The Tamworth Tap, Tamworth, Staffordshire (second win) ^[1]
• 2022: The Tamworth Tap, Tamworth, Staffordshire^[2]
• 2021: Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
• 2020: Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
• 2019: The Bell Inn, Aldworth, Berkshire (second win)
• 2018: Wonston Arms, Wonston, Hampshire^[3]
  • 2017: Cricketers Arms, St Helens, Merseyside 2016: George & Dragon, Hudswell, North Yorkshire^[4]
• 2015: Sandford Park Alehouse, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire^[5]
• 2014: The Salutation Inn, Ham, Gloucestershire^[6]
• 2013: The Swan with Two Necks, Pendleton, Lancashire
• 2012: The Baum, Rochdale, Greater Manchester^[7]
• 2011: The Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, Wrexham
• 2010: The Harp, Charing Cross, London
• 2009: The Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (second win)
• 2008: The Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
• 2007: Old Spot Inn, Hill Road, Dursley, Gloucestershire
• 2006: Tom Cobley Tavern, Spreyton, Devon
• 2005: The Swan, Little Totham, Essex (second win)
• 2004: The Fat Cat, Norwich, Norfolk (second win)
• 2003: The Crown & Thistle, Gravesend, Kent
• 2002: The Swan, Little Totham, Essex
• 2001: The Nursery Inn, Heaton Norris, Greater Manchester
• 2000: Blisland Inn, Blisland, Cornwall
• 1999: The Rising Sun, Tipton, West Midlands
• 1998: The Fat Cat, Norwich, Norfolk
• 1997: The Sair Inn, Linthwaite, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
• 1996: Halfway House, Pitney, Somerset
• 1995: Coalbrookdale Inn, Coalbrookdale, Shropshire
• 1994: Beamish Mary Inn, No Place, between Stanley and Beamish, Co Durham
• 1993: Three Kings, Hanley Castle, Worcestershire & The Fishermans Tavern, Broughty Ferry, Angus
• 1992: (No Result)
• 1991: Great Western, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
• 1990: The Bell Inn, Aldworth, Berkshire
• 1989: Cap & Feathers, Tillingham, Essex
• 1988: The Boars Head, Kinmuck, Aberdeenshire^[8]

Regional winners

2022^{[9] [10]}

Region	Pub Name	Location
Central Southern	Bell	Waltham St Lawrence, Berkshire
East Anglia	King's Head	Norwich, Norfolk
East Midlands	Horse & Jockey	Stapleford, Nottinghamshire
Greater London	Hop Inn	Hornchurch, London
Greater Manchester	Real Crafty	Wigan, Manchester
Kent	Larkins Alehouse	Cranbook, Kent
Merseyside/Cheshire/North Wales	Magazine Hotel	New Brighton, Wallasey, Merseyside
North East	Station House	Durham, Northumberland
Scotland/Northern Ireland	Commercial Inn	Dunfermline, Fife
Wales	Mold Ale House	Mold
South West	Pelican Inn	Gloucester
Surrey/Sussex	Hornet Alehouse	Chichester
Wessex	Olaf's Tun	Southampton, Hampshire
West Midlands	Tamworth Tap	Tamworth, Staffordshire
West Pennines	Fifteens at St Annes	St Annes
Yorkshire	Heaven & Ale	Barnsley

2017 ^[11]

Region	Pub Name	Location
Central Southern	The Cross Key	Thame, Oxfordshire
East Anglia	The Stanford Arms	Lowestoft, Suffolk
East Midlands	Old Oak Inn	Horsley Woodhouse, Derbyshire
Greater London	The Hope	Carshalton, London
Greater Manchester	The Baum	Rochdale, Manchester
Kent	The Rifle Volunteers	Maidstone, Kent
Merseyside/Cheshire/North Wales	The Cricketer's Arms	St Helens, Merseyside
North East	The Steamboat	South Shields, South Tyneside
Scotland/Northern Ireland	Staggs Bar	Musselburgh, East Lothian
Wales	Arvon Ale House	Llandrindod Wells, Powys
South West	The Salutation	Ham, Gloucestershire
Surrey/Sussex	Brooksteed Alehouse	Worthing, West Sussex
Wessex	The Bottle Inn	Marshwood, Dorset
West Midlands	The Earl Grey Inn	Leek, Staffordshire
West Pennines	The Swan with two necks	Pendleton, Lancashire
Yorkshire	George and Dragon	Hudswell, North Yorkshire

2011^[12]

Region	Pub Name	Location
Central Southern	Radnor Arms	Coleshill, Oxfordshire
East Anglia	Engineers Arms	Henlow, Bedfordshire
East Midlands	Crown	Beeston, Nottinghamshire
Greater London	Southampton Arms	Highgate Road, London
Greater Manchester	Magnet	Stockport
Kent	Flower Pot	Maidstone
Merseyside/Cheshire/North Wales	Bridge End Inn	Ruabon, Wrexham County Borough
North East	Boathouse Inn	Wylam, Northumberland
Scotland/Northern Ireland	Fox and Hounds	Houston, Renfrewshire
South/Mid Wales	Ancient Briton	Pen-y-cae, Powys
South West	The Front	Falmouth, Cornwall
Surrey/Sussex	Evening Star	Brighton
Wessex	Nog Inn	Wincanton
West Midlands	Beacon Hotel	Sedgley, West Midlands
West Pennines	Swan with Two Necks	Pendleton, Lancashire
Yorkshire	Jemmy Hirst at the Rose & Crown	Rawcliffe, East Riding of Yorkshire

2010^[13]

Region	Pub Name	Location
Scotland and Northern Ireland	Albert Tavern	Freuchie, Fife
North West	Taps	Lytham, Lancashire
North East	Surtees Arms	Ferryhill, County Durham
Greater Manchester	Knott Bar	Manchester
Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales	Brewery Tap	Chester
Yorkshire	Ferry Boat	Thorganby, North Yorkshire
East Midlands	The Crown	Beeston, Nottinghamshire
West Midlands	Beacon Hotel	Sedgley, West Midlands
East Anglia	Dove	Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Kent	Flower Pot	Maidstone
Greater London	The Harp	Charing Cross
Surrey and Sussex	Royal Oak	Friday Street, near Rusper, West Sussex
South West	Salutation	Ham, near Berkeley, Gloucestershire
South and Mid Wales	Ship and Castle	Aberystwyth
Wessex and Channel Islands	Guide Dog	Bevois Valley, Southampton, Hampshire
Central Southern	The Bell	Aldworth, Berkshire

2009

^[14]

Region	Pub Name	Location
Scotland and Northern Ireland	Albert Tavern	Freuchie, Fife
West Pennines	Taps	Lytham, Lancashire
North East	Boathouse Inn	Wylam, Northumberland
Greater Manchester	Crown Hotel	Worthington
Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales	Golden Lion Inn	Llangynhafal, Denbighshire
Yorkshire	Kelham Island Tavern	Sheffield, South Yorkshire
East Midlands	Old Oak Inn	Horsley Woodhouse, Derbyshire
West Midlands	Cock Hotel	Wellington, Shropshire
East Anglia	Wheatsheaf	Writtle, Essex
Kent	Bull	Horton Kirby
Greater London	Bricklayer’s Arms	Putney
Surrey and Sussex	Royal Oak	Friday Street, near Rusper, West Sussex
South West	Old Spot	Dursley, Gloucestershire
South and Mid Wales	Severn Arms	Penybont
Wessex and Channel Islands	Prince of Wales	Farnborough, Hampshire
Central Southern	Royal Oak Inn	Wantage, Oxfordshire

2008

^[15]

Region	Pub Name	Location
Scotland and Northern Ireland	Marine Hotel	Stonehaven, Grampian
West Pennines	Manor Arms	Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria
North East	Kings Arms	Deptford, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Greater Manchester	Crown	Stockport
Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales	Blue Bell	Halkyn, Flintshire
Yorkshire	Kelham Island Tavern	Sheffield, South Yorkshire
East Midlands	Arkwright Arms	Sutton cum Duckmanton, Derbyshire
West Midlands	Beacon Hotel	Sedgley
East Anglia	Chequers	Little Gransden, Cambridgeshire
Kent	Butchers Arms	Herne
London	Trafalgar	South Wimbledon
Surrey and Sussex	Royal Oak	Friday Street, near Rusper, West Sussex
South West	Tom Cobley Tavern	Spreyton, Devon
South and Mid Wales	Tafarn John y Gwas	Drefech-Felindre, West Wales
Wessex and Channel Islands	Red Lion Inn	Kilmington, Wiltshire
Central Southern	Royal Oak Inn	Wantage, Oxfordshire

2007^[16]

Region	Pub Name	Location
Scotland/N.I.	Blue Peter Hotel	Kirkcolm, Dumfries & Galloway
North West	Bridge Bier Huis	Burnley, Lancashire
North East	Kings Arms	Deptford, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Greater Manchester	The New Oxford	Salford
Merseyside/North Wales	Turks Head	St. Helens
Yorkshire	Kelham Island Tavern	Sheffield, South Yorkshire
East Midlands	Thorold Arms	Harmston, Lincolnshire
West Midlands	The Bell	Pensax, Worcestershire
East Anglia	Land of Liberty, Peace and Plenty	Heronsgate, Hertfordshire
Kent	Ship Centurion	Whitstable
London	Bricklayer’s Arms	Putney
Surrey/Sussex	White Horse	Maplehurst, West Sussex
South West	Old Spot Inn	Dursley, Gloucestershire
South Wales	Borough Arms	Neath, Glamorgan
Wessex	Plough Inn	Little London, Hampshire
Central Southern	Rose and Crown	Hawridge, Buckinghamshire

2005^[17]

Region	Pub Name	Location
Scotland/N.I.	Halfway House	Edinburgh
North West	Taps,	Lytham St Anne's, Lancashire
North East	Robin Hood	Jarrow, Tyne and Wear
Greater Manchester	Musketeer	Leigh
Merseyside/North Wales	Bhurtpore Inn	Aston, Cheshire
Yorkshire	Crown Inn	Manfield, North Yorkshire
East Midlands	Old Coach House	Southwell, Nottinghamshire
West Midlands	Jolly Crispin	Upper Gornal, West Midlands
East Anglia	The Swan	Little Totham, Essex
Kent	Shipwrights Arms	Faversham
London	Robin Hood & Little John	Bexleyheath
Surrey/Sussex	Evening Star	Brighton
South West	Check Inn	North Wroughton, Wiltshire
South Wales	Wern Fawr Inn	Ystalyfera, Swansea
Wessex	Boot Inn	Weymouth, Dorset
Central Southern	Bell	Aldworth, Buckinghamshire

2004

Region	Pub Name	Location
Scotland/N.I.
North West
North East
Greater Manchester	Arden Arms^[18]	Stockport
Merseyside/North Wales	Beartown Tap^[19]	Congleton, Cheshire
Yorkshire	Kelham Island Tavern	Sheffield
East Midlands
West Midlands	Olde Swan	Netherton, West Midlands
East Anglia	Engineers Arms^[20]	Henlow, Bedfordshire
Kent
London
Surrey/Sussex
South West	New Inn	Halse, Somerset
South Wales
Wessex	Queen's Hotel^[21]	Gosport, Hampshire
Central Southern

Runners-up

• 2010:
  • Taps, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
  • Beacon Hotel, Sedgley, West Midlands
  • Salutation, Ham, near Berkeley, Gloucestershire
• 2009:
  • Royal Oak Inn, Wantage, Oxon
  • Crown Hotel, Worthington, Greater Manchester
  • Royal Oak, Friday Street, West Sussex
• 2008:
  • The Crown, Stockport, Greater Manchester
  • Tom Cobley Tavern, Spreyton, Devon
  • Royal Oak, Rusper, West Sussex^[22]
• 2007:
  • Turks Head, St Helens, Merseyside
  • Land of Liberty, Peace and Plenty, Heronsgate, Hertfordshire
  • Blue Peter Hotel, Kirkcolm, Dumfries & Galloway
• 2006:
  • Failford Inn, Failford, Ayrshire
  • West Riding Refreshment Rooms, Dewsbury railway station, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
  • Dove Street Inn, Ipswich, East Anglia
• 2005:
  • The Check Inn, North Wroughton, Wiltshire
  • Old Coach House, Southwell, East Midlands
  • Robin Hood, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear
• 2004:
  • Arden Arms, Stockport, Greater Manchester
  • New Inn, Halse, Somerset
  • Olde Swan, Netherton, West Midlands
• 1998:
  • Brewery Arms, Keighley
  • Number 22, Darlington
  • Plough and Harrow, Monknash, Glamorgan
• 1997:
  • Blacksmith's Arms, Calbourne, Isle of Wight
  • Railway, Yorton, Shropshire
  • Pot Kiln, Frilsham, Berkshire
  • Boat Inn, Ashleworth, Gloucestershire

See also

• Heritage pub
• List of public house topics
• Pub Design Awards

External links

• CAMRA - Pub Awards
• CAMRA - Awards results
• Winners List - CAMRA

Notes and References

1. Web site: Tamworth Tap named best pub in country for the second year in a row . 12 January 2023.
2. Web site: Popular pub The Tamworth Tap wins Camra 'Oscar' . 5 February 2022.
3. Web site: The tiny Hampshire country pub named best in the country . 24 June 2018.
4. Web site: WINNER Yorkshire: George & Dragon, Hudswell Following its closure in 2008, residents of the village of Hudswell worked together to buy the pub & relaunch it as a cooperative. Now it functions as a community space (containing the village library, a shop & community allotments) as well as an excellent drinking establishment, with panoramic views over the Swale Valley. | CAMRA pub of the year 2017: Britain's best boozer revealed - Food & drink . Telegraph.co.uk . 3 March 2017 . 25 March 2017.
5. News: Rebecca Smithers . Converted nightclub wins Camra's pub of the year award | Life and style . . 1 January 1970 . 25 February 2016.
6. News: Gander. Kashmira. National Pub of the Year 2015: These are the UK's best watering holes. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/national-pub-of-the-year-2015-the-salutation-inn-wins-prestigious-award-10052338.html . 18 June 2022 . subscription . live. 20 February 2015. The Independent. 17 February 2015.
7. Web site: The Baum, Rochdale, Wins Gtr Mcr CAMRA Pub of the Year 2013 . Turpin . Darren . 14 September 2013 . Greater Manchester Ale News . AleNewsNet . 20 September 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060819/http://gmcr.alenewsnet.com/2013/09/14/baum-rochdale-greater-manchester-camra-pub-year-2013/ . 21 September 2013 . dmy .
8. Web site: Pub of the Year - Previous Winners . 20 September 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054635/http://www.camra.org.uk/potywinners . 21 September 2013 .
9. Web site: CAMRA names 16 best pubs in the UK. 31 August 2022.
10. Web site: Pub of the Year .
11. Web site: CAMRA pub of the year 2017:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/pubs-and-bars/camra-pub-year-2017-beloved-local-saved-villagers-tops-list/ . 3 March 2017.
12. Web site: CAMRA names its regional pub of the year winners. 15 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120322202555/http://beertoday.co.uk/?p=4995 . 22 March 2012 .
13. Web site: Britain's Top 16 pubs : CAMRA announces Regional Pubs of the Year. 27 September 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110319215347/http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=326377 . 19 March 2011 .
14. http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=gbg10poty
15. Web site: Pub of the Year 2008 . 19 April 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090321175944/http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=gbg09poty . 21 March 2009 .
16. 'What's Brewing' - Newspaper of CAMRA, February 2008 Issue
17. Web site: Good Beer Guide 2006 names Top 16 Pubs in Britain 12/09/2005 . 15 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110518194202/http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=180702 . 18 May 2011 .
18. Web site: Arden Arms - Stockport . Lacartes.com . 25 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170705072317/http://www.lacartes.com/business/Arden-Arms/1922 . 5 July 2017 . dead .
19. Web site: TOWN MAP OF CONGLETON . 4 August 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101120034743/http://www.beartownbrewery.co.uk/How%20To%20Find%20Us.htm . 20 November 2010 .
20. Web site: The Casket : Newsletter of the East Bedfordshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale . Eastbedscamra.org.uk . 25 February 2016.
21. Web site: Portsmouth & South East Hants CAMRA - Pub Guide . Psehcamra.org.uk . 1 February 2016 . 25 February 2016.
22. Web site: Yorkshire pub voted best in Britain. . 26 February 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090227140342/http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=297939 . 27 February 2009 .