The best pub in every UK region, according to the 2025 Good Food Guide

Pubs are at the centre of British society. Boozers are places to eat, drink, go on dates, watch sports, head after work, make new friends, or sit alone with a cold pint: basically, in the UK, community begins at the pub. For that reason you’re probably pretty loyal to your local, but if you are looking to branch out, the Good Food Guide has a few recommendations.

The Good Food Guide has been ranking the best of British food and drinks since the 1950s. After more than 70 years in business, 2025 was the first year that the guide decided to rank the nation’s pubs, publishing the inaugural list of Britain’s 100 Best Pubs.

The Highland Laddie, an old-school boozer in Leeds with a film-worthy backstory, came first overall, praised for offering customers ‘exactly what a pub should’. You can read more about its win here.

But the Laddie is not the only place worth visiting. In fact, there are 99 other brilliant bars spread right across the UK (except Northern Ireland) that the Good Food Guide thinks you should try out.

Of course, this is still a food guide, so each of these venues will also offer both good drinks and a delicious menu. Many are ‘at the forefront of the British dining scene’, and have made the cut because they come complete with ‘approachable, affordable cooking of the highest order’. In short, each has ‘real ales, wonderful warmth and brilliant cooking’.

Although a lot of the entrants are in the south of England, there’s an impressive variety of locales served by the 100 Best Pubs list. Everywhere is represented, from the Highlands to Cornwall, and everywhere in between. Wherever you are, there’s something for you.

The best pubs in every UK region

Here are the best pubs in every UK region, including where they ranked on the Good Food Guide’s overall list of the 100 Best Pubs.

Scotland

The Kinneuchar Inn, Fife: 2

Wales

Inn at The Sticks, Carmarthenshire: 9

North East

The Broad Chare, Newcastle: 15

North West

Parkers Arms, Lancashire: 39

Yorkshire and The Humber

The Highland Laddie, Leeds: 1

East Midlands

The Pack Horse, Hayfield, Derbyshire: 10

West Midlands

The Old Wharf Inn: 33

East of England

Greyhound Inn, Pettistree, Suffolk: 6

London

The Pelican, Notting Hill: 7

Find out more about all the London pubs in the Good Food Guide’s list here.

South East

The Merry Harriers, Surrey: 3

South West

The Beckford Arms, Wiltshire: 4

Did you see that this historic railway tunnel has been given a new lease of life with a thrilling new ride?

Plus: 22 British restaurants were just added to the Michelin Guide.