The Campaign for Real Ale has announced the 16 regional winners for this year's Pub of the Year competition, representing the finest establishments across Britain. These exceptional venues will compete for the national title, with four finalists to be revealed in October and the overall winner announced in January 2026.
The recognition comes at a critical time for the British pub industry, which faces unprecedented challenges. Eight pubs close every week across Britain, with 209 venues demolished or converted in the first half of 2025 alone.
Regional Champions Revealed
In East Anglia, Blackfriars Tavern in Great Yarmouth has claimed the regional title for the second consecutive year. The Victorian-era venue first opened in 1865, closed in 2008, but reopened after the pandemic in 2021 following a change of ownership in 2011.
East Central England's winner is The Orange Tree in Baldock, Hertfordshire, a 300-year-old Greene King pub serving as headquarters for more than ten local clubs and societies. The venue boasts impressive malt whisky and vintage bottled beer collections.
The Burnt Pig in Ilkeston represents the East Midlands, having opened just ten years ago in 2015 by a local businessman. This year's Derbyshire pub of the year houses a collection of historic pub memorabilia and frequently appears in CAMRA's annual guides.
London and Northern Winners
London's representative, The Hope in Carshalton, stands out for its unique approach as a venue "by beer enthusiasts for beer enthusiasts". The pub offers piano entertainment while deliberately avoiding televisions and fruit machines.
The Cricketers Arms in St Helens, Merseyside, returns to the shortlist after winning the national crown in 2017. The venue boasts its own award-winning Howzat brewery, producing house beers for both the pub and other local venues.
Durham's Station House claimed the North East title for the second time, having finished second nationally in 2022. The former furniture shop converted to a pub in 2015 serves beer and cider from a cellar hatch.
Diverse Regional Representatives
Cumberland Inn in Alston, Cumbria, represents the North West, having previously won multiple CAMRA awards including local cider pub of the year in 2013, 2014 and 2020. Northern Ireland's champion is The Dog and Duck Inn in Lisbellaw, featuring 14 guest taps alongside regular beers and ciders, plus the on-site Glenwinny distillery producing small-batch Irish whisky.
The Volunteer Arms, known locally as Staggs, represents South East Scotland and has remained in the same family since the mid-1850s. The venue displays mirrors collected from defunct local breweries over the years.
South Central England's winner, The Bell Inn in Aldworth, Berkshire, holds the county's only Heritage Pub Interior designation. The name derives from bells featured in the coat of arms of its historic landowners.
Unique Venues and Community Hubs
Kent's The Royston in Thanet breaks traditional pub moulds as both a pub and coffeehouse, decorated in an eclectic mix of Victorian, steampunk and art deco themes. Cornwall's Hole in the Wall in Bodmin claimed the South West title after being crowned Cornwall's pub of the year in 2024.
Cornwall Live reports the Bodmin venue originally served as the town's Debtors' Prison in the 18th century and features a unique garden entrance with tropical plants, a stream, and notably, a stuffed lion. Judges described it as a "welcoming community pub" popular with locals and tourists alike.
Wales' representative, Rhos yr Hafod Inn (also known as Cross Inn), won local pub of the year in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The venue maintains at least two Welsh ales at all times and features a back room filled with old photographs of local scenes.
Final Regional Winners
Pelican Inn in Gloucester represents West Central England, associated with Wye Valley Brewery and beloved by locals and rugby fans. The Grade II listed pub reportedly uses wooden beams from explorer Francis Drake's Golden Hind ship, originally called Pelican.
The Tamworth Tap in Tamworth again claims the West Midlands title, having previously won the national award in both 2022 and 2023. The part-Tudor building hosts diverse local events including bat watching evenings and "paint and sip" sessions.
Yorkshire's champion, the Beer Engine in Skipton, completes the list of regional winners. Located in a tiny street between the town centre and canal, it previously won the regional title in 2023.
Industry Recognition
Competition judges evaluate venues on atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, inclusivity and overall impression, alongside the quality of cask beer, real cider and perry. Andrea Briers, CAMRA's Pub of the Year Co-ordinator, emphasised the achievement these establishments represent amid current industry pressures.
"It is a real pleasure to announce this year's top 16 pubs, each of which has demonstrated exceptional quality, warmth and dedication to their communities," Briers said. "These pubs are shining examples of what makes the Great British pub so special, from perfectly kept pints to a genuine welcome for all. Achieving this in the face of rising costs and other pressures is no small feat, and we want to see these pubs, and thousands of others like them, continue to thrive. That's why we're calling on the Chancellor to give pubs a fair deal in the Autumn Budget, so they can keep serving their communities for many years to come."
Sources used: "Daily Mail", "Cornwall Live" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
