Tom Kerridge's Hand & Flowers crowned UK's top gastropub for third consecutive year
The Greene King lease in Marlow, Buckinghamshire received the most votes in a prestigious industry poll organised by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.
Around 450 respected people across the industry including top chefs, food writers and journalists, guide editors and pubco chiefs cast their votes to determine the top 50 gastropubs pubs in the UK.
The top 50 pubs and special award winners were revealed by food writer and Great British Menu judge Matthew Fort at a lunch ceremony at Anglian Country Inns’ Hermitage Rd. in Hitchin, Hertfordshire today (27 January).
Chef patron Tom Kerridge and wife Beth have run the pub since 2005, achieving a first Michelin star in 2006 and a second in 2011.
Shepherd Neame tenancy the Sportsman in Seasalter, Kent was runner-up once again, while Michelin-starred the Pony & Trap in Chew Magna, Bristol took third after moving up nine places from number 12 in the 2013 awards.
Special awards
Six special awards were handed out with Masterchef: The Professionals winner Anton Piotrowski’s pub the Treby Arms scooping highest new entry at 17; and Young’s pub the Ship in Wandsworth winning Highest Climber after jumping up 35 places to 14. The pub is the host venue for the annual Scotch Egg Challenge.
Holly Eggleton of the Pony & Trap, which placed third, won Front of House Manager of the Year, while her brother and Pony & Trap head chef Josh scooped the coveted Gastropub Chef of the Year title. South-east pubco Whiting & Hammond won Business Innovation of the Year for its quarterly Gastro magazine and Tom Kitchin’s the Scran & Scallie in Edinburgh walked away with Newcomer of the Year.
Michelin Pub of the Year 2014 the Greyhound on the Test in Stockbridge, Hampshire was highly commended in the category.
Highland Park whisky sponsored the Front of House Manager category, Berkmann Wine Cellars sponsored Newcomer of the Year and BPEX is also an associate partner of the awards.
The Top 50 gastropubs in full:
1 Hand & Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
2 The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
3 The Pony & Trap, Chew Magna, Somerset
4 The Pipe & Glass Inn, Beverley, East Yorkshire
5 The Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire
6 Royal Oak Paley Street, Nr Maidenhead, Berkshire
7 Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market, Norfolk
8 Harwood Arms, Fulham, London
9 The Hardwick, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
10 The Bull & Last, Highgate, London
11 The Gurnard’s Head, Zennor, St Ives, Cornwall
12 Anchor & Hope, Waterloo, London
13 Hinds Head, Bray, Berkshire
14 The Ship, Wandsworth, London
15 The British Larder, Bromeswell, Suffolk
16 The Jugged Hare, Moorgate, London
17 The Treby Arms, Sparkwell, Devon
18 Canton Arms, Stockwell, London
19 Drapers Arms, Islington, North London
20 Jack in the Green, Rockbeare, Devon
21 Cornish Arms, Tavistock, Devon
22 Wellington Arms, Baughurst, Hampshire
23 Olive Branch, Clipsham, Rutland
24 Butchers Arms, Eldersfield, Worcestershire
25 The Long Arms, South Wraxall, Wiltshire
26 Duncombe Arms, Ellastone, Staffordshire
27 Beckford Arms, Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire
28 Freemasons at Wiswell, Cltheroe, Lancashire
29 The Plough, Longparish, Hampshire
30 Masons Arms, Knowstone, Devon
31 Scran & Scallie, Edinburgh
32 Broad Chare, Newcastle, Newcastle
33 The Stagg Inn, Titley, Herefordshire
34 Nut Tree, Murcott, Oxfordshire
35 Lady Ottoline, Holborn, London
36 Anchor Inn, Walberswick, Suffolk
37 Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon, Powys
38 Somers Town Coffee House, Euston, London
39 Kensington Arms, Cotham, Bristol
40 Vintage, Leith, Edinburgh
41 Rat Inn, Anick, Northumberland
42 Red Lion, Cricklade, Wiltshire
43 The Eagle, Farringdon, London
44 Garrison, Bermondsey, London
45 The Feathered Nest, Nether Westcote, Cotswolds
46 The Angel, Hetton, North Yorkshire
47 The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk
48 The Parkers Arms, Clitheroe, Lancashire
49 The Pot Kiln, Frilsham, Berkshire
50 Wheatsheaf, Northleach, Gloucestershire
Check out the 30 Jan issue of the PMA for full awards coverage.
