This is officially the UK’s cosiest pub

With these long, dreary winter days, nothing hits better than cosying up with a pint in your local boozer, surrounded by homely interiors, a blazing fireplace and all-round wholesome vibes. But with many pubs serving draughty windows and harsh lighting, finding peak levels of cosiness isn’t always so easy. 

Worry not. If you want ultimate warm and snug-ness with your Guinness, South Western Railway has ranked the top ten cosiest establishments in the country. Researchers looked at the sentiment of reviews for different free houses and ranked cosiness according to four metrics – ambience, quietness, comfort and the quality of roast dinners. 

With all that in mind, The Royal Standard of England in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire earned the title of the UK’s cosiest pub. At the grand age of around 900, it’s purportedly the oldest pub in the country, so has had plenty of time to get ‘cosy’ down to a fine art. 

Securing second place on the snug ranking was The Swan in Cheltenham, which scored highest in the quietness category. And in third place was The Ring O’Bells in Compton Martin, Somerset, which boasts a huge inglenook fireplace to warm the cockles after a wintery walk through the nearby Mendip Hills. 

Here’s the full list of the cosiest pubs in the UK, according to South Western Railway

1. The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield
2. The Swan, Cheltenham
3. The Ring O'Bells, Compton Martin
4. The Haunch of Venison, Salisbury
5. The Tobie Norris, Stamford
6. The Sheep Heid, Edinburgh
7. The Hare and Hounds, Cumbria
8. The Heart of Northumbria, Hexham
9. The Warren House Inn, Devon
10. The Compasses Inn, Wiltshire

After more pub-spo? You’re in the right place. Beat the winter blues by taking a trip to one of Time Out’s best pubs in the UK and plan ahead for brighter days by checking out our list of the country’s very best beer gardens.