Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, is UK's top gastropub
The Greene King lease in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, received the most votes during a prestigious industry poll of over 500 voters including celebrity chefs, pub guide editors, food journalists and writers and industry trade chiefs, organised by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser. Chef patron Tom Kerridge has run the pub with wife Beth since 2005 and has held one star since 2006 and two since 2011.
Shepherd Neame tenancy the Sportsman in Seasalter, Kent, took second place after moving up eight places and previous winner the Star in Harome, North Yorkshire, remained at number three for the second year.
Masterchef winner Anton Piotrowski congratulated Kerridge on his success: "When I heard I was going to be working at The Hand & Flowers, I knew it would be one of the most influential cooking experiences of my life. If I didn't have my own full-time business, I would give my right arm for a job there.
"His food is right up my street, serving fish and chips and still having two Michelin stars. That shows how much talent this guy has! A big well done from all the team here."
Six special awards were won with the Gunton Arms in Thorpe Market, Norwich, scooping Highest New Entry and last year’s Newcomer of the Year the British Larder in Bromeswell, Suffolk, landing Highest Climber after shooting 18 places up the list to number 14.
Mike Champion of the Red Lion in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire won Front of House Manager of the Year; the Somers Town Coffee House in Euston, London won Business Innovation of the Year with its secret upstairs supper club Ssshh; the Swan at Wedmore, Somerset walked away with Newcomer of the Year; and James Durrant of the Plough, Longparish, Hampshire scooped Gastropub Chef of the Year.
The top 50 pubs and special award winners were revealed at a lunch ceremony at the Crazy Bear in Stadhampton, Oxfordshire, today (28 January). The awards recognise the outlets pushing the boundaries of pub food and creating thriving businesses.
The awards were presented by Jay Rayner.
The top 50 gastropubs
1 Hand & Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
2 The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
3 Star at Harome, Helmsley, North Yorkshire
4 Pipe & Glass Inn, Beverly, East Yorkshire
5 Harwood Arms, Fulham, London
6 The Royal Oak Paley Street, Maidenhead, Berkshire
7 The Anchor & Hope, Waterloo, London
8 The Hardwick, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
9 Hinds Head, Bray, Berkshire
10 Beckford Arms, Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire
11 The Bull & Last, Highgate, London
12 Pony & Trap, Chew Magna, Bristol
13 Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market, Norwich
14 British Larder, Bromeswell, Suffolk
15 Gurnards Head, Zennor, Cornwall
16 Canton Arms, Stockwell, London
17 Jack in the Green, Rockbeare, near Exeter, Devon
18 Masons Arms, Knowstone, Devon
19 Olive Branch, Clipsham, Rutland
20 Wellington Arms, Baughurst, Hampshire
21 Drapers Arms, Islington, London
22 Felin Fach Griffin, Felin Fach, Brecon, Powys
23 The Angel, Hetton, near Skipton, North Yorkshire
24 Mall Tavern, Notting Hill, London
25 The Eagle, Farringdon, London
26 The Plough, Longparish, Hampshire
27 Butchers Arms, Eldersfield, Gloucestershire
28 The Garrison, Bermondsey, London
29 Pot Kiln, Frilsham, Berkshire
30 Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton St George, Somerset
31 Ye Olde Sun Inn, Colton, near tadcaster, North Yorkshire
32 Three Fishes, Mitton, Lancashire
33 Anvil, Sawdon, North Yorkshire
34 Jugged Hare, Moorgate, London
35 The Ship, Wandsworth, London
36 The Nut Tree, Murcott, Oxfordshire
37 Freemasons at Wiswell, Wiswell, Lancashire
38 Marlborough Tavern, Bath
39 Masons Arms, Cartmell Fell, Cumbria
40 Duke of Cumberland, Henley, West Sussex
41 Rat Inn, Anick, Northumberland
42 Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston, Lancashire
43 Purefoy Arms, Preston Candover, Hampshire
44 Butchers Arms, Hepworth, Yorkshire
45 Wheatsheaf, Northleach, Gloucestershire
46 The Broad Chare, Newcastle
47 Bell Inn, Hampton, Middlesex
48 Millbrook Inn, South Pool, Devon
49 White Hart, Fyfield, Oxfordshire
50 Somerstown Coffee House, Euston, London
