Gallery: Winners of the Good Pub Guide 2016
Described as a ‘welcoming Georgian Inn, The Horse and Groom in Bourton-on-the-Hill, impressed judges with its selection of real ales and fine wines served up in a ‘charming bar.’
- Click through the image gallery to see the other national award winners...
Brothers Tom and Will Greenstock, who run the pub, were also praised for providing ‘first class, imaginative food in attractive dining areas, individually styled and well equipped bedrooms and fine country views from the big garden.’
Tom Greenstock added: "For Will & I personally there is extra satisfaction as prior to taking on the Horse & Groom we were working for our parents at their successful dining pub. Before we left them they won the GPG Dining Pub of the Year award so from the outset here we were determined to match or better that achievement.
"It has taken ten years (it was our 10th birthday in July) but we’ve finally managed it!"
The Dining Pub of the Year accolade was awarded to Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd, Wales, an 18th century property, which was credited for serving up ‘as good as it gets’ delicious and inventive food.
Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, a 1,000-year-old Inn which underwent a £1million refurbishment between 2013 and 2014, collected the New Pub of the Year Award, earning recognition for its ‘character’, ‘striking features’ ‘comfortable bedrooms’ and ‘courteous and friendly staff’ among other attributes.
Licensee Alex Davenport Jones told the PMA: “It’s the oldest inn in England, it’s got one of the best executive and head chefs I’ve ever worked with from a culinary and temperament perspective and a great support crew from Brakspear. To get this kind of award is a massive stamp of approval. It’s the Baftas or Oscars of the pub world.”
Fiona Stapley, editor of the Good Pub Guide said: “We are delighted with our pubs in the 2016 Good Pub Guide which represent the best in Britain. Every year landlords and landladies manage to raise the bar higher and higher by keeping in touch with what their customers want, watching out for interesting new ideas, and polishing up the old ones. But of course the most important aspect still remains a genuinely warm welcome - because without this most pubs aren’t worth crossing the road for.”
The other 2016 Good Pub Guide national awards winners were:
- Licensee of the year: Kathryn Horton, Ostrich, Coleford, Gloucestershire
- Brewery of the year: Harveys, Lewes, East Sussex
- Pub group of the year: Cirrus Inns represented by The Epicurean Collection