Britain’s best gastropubs for 2024 have been revealed

When it comes to pubs, a cosy interior, crisp pint and a generous portion of good grub usually does the trick. But since the word was coined back in the early 1990s, ‘gastropubs’ have been taking UK boozers to a whole new level – offering fancy tasting menus, gathering Michelin stars and pouring mind-blowing craft beers.

But how can we distinguish great gastropubs from downright exceptional ones? Well, for 16 years, Estrella Damm has published its coveted ranking of the UK’s 50 best gastropubs, based on votes from food experts and industry figures, as well as writers and journalists from around the country.

This year a spot in Suffolk came up trumps for the second time, after being bumped down to second place last year. The Unruly Pig in Woodbridge is listed in the Michelin guide and dates all the way back to the sixteenth century. Its menu offers ‘unfussy “Britalian” food‘ with a focus on local, seasonal produce (which means dishes can switch up at very short notice). 

Coming in second and third place were the Cornish Arms in Devon and The Mariners in Cornwall. There were also some extra categories to highlight the ‘one to watch’, chef of the year and sustainable pub of the year.

The first of those special mentions went to The Bull’s Head in Derbyshire while chef of the year was awarded to Daniel Smith at the Fordwich Arms and the Bridge Arms in Kent. The Loch and the Tyne in Old Windsor was recognised for its super sustainable credentials and hyper-local focus. 

Here's the full list of Estrella Damm's best gastropubs for 2024: 

1. The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge
2. The Cornish Arms, Tavistock
3. The Mariners, Rock
4. The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury
5. The Sportsman, Seasalter
6. The Red Lion & Sun, Highgate, London
7. Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland
8. The Star Inn, Harome
9. Freemasons at Wiswell, Wiswell
10. The Hand & Flowers, Marlow 
11. Heft, High Newton
12. The Harwood Arms, Fulham, London
13. The Angel at Hetton, Hetton
14. The Rat Inn, Hexham
15. The Bridge Arms, Canterbury
16. The Dog at Wingham, Wingham
17. The Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax
18. The Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market
19. The Pack Horse, Hayfield
20. Pyne Arms, Barnstaple
21. The Coach, Marlow
22. The Beehive, White Waltham
23. The Broad Chare, Newcastle
24. The Edinburgh Castle, Manchester
25. The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe
26. The Baring, Islington, London
27. The Kentish Hare, Tunbridge Wells
28. The Pipe & Glass Inn, Beverley
29. The White Swan at Fence, Fence
30. The Longs Arms, Bath
31. The Bull & Last, Islington, London
32. The Black Bear, Usk
33. The Dog & Gun Inn, Skelton
34. The Woolpack, Stroud
35. The Barrington Boar, Barrington
36. The Parakeet, Kentish Town, London
37. The Masons Arms, Knowstone
38. The Abbey Inn, Byland
39. The Black Bull, Sedbergh
40. The Cadogan Arms, Chelsea, London
41. The Bulls Head, Craswell
42. The Loch and The Tyne, Windsor
43. The Guinea Grill, Mayfair, London 
44. The Dew Drop Inn, Hurley
45. The Killingworth Castle, Wootton
46. The Canton Arms, Stockwell, London
47. The Double Red Duke, Clanfield
48. The Duncombe Arms, Ashbourne
49. The Scran & Scallie, Edinburgh
50. The Bull, Charlbury

You can find out more about all these pubs on the official ranking website here. 

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