Meet the finalists for Star Pubs & Bars Pub of the Year

Bat & Ball, Breamore, Fordingbridge, Hampshire​​

This roadside beauty of a site screams out at passers-by travelling through the scenic Hampshire countryside to pull in for a visit.

And those that do will not be disappointed, with a warm welcome and a classic interior leading onto a modern and exciting outdoor space dominated by an impressive stretch tent to allow alfresco dining all year round.

This is a pub that takes its sustainability credentials seriously as well, and has created its own polytunnel farm on land at the back, producing high quality fresh produce with minimum input requirement that not only supply the pub with its fresh produce needs, but also another pub nearby as well. 

An institution in the Surrey community of Shepperton, this is a business that does not stand still and trades every square inch of its premises, and even branches out onto the River Thames as well.

A modern, well presented pub caters for the entire community, with an impressive covered courtyard area offering cosy seating with sheepskin blankets, which punters can even buy to take home, and a new addition of some private huts for visitors to book and enjoy.

Over the road, the pub has reclaimed the riverbank to create a stunning riverside beer garden and has recently taken to hiring out boats to guests to allow them to cruise the Thames, before obviously popping back to the pub for some great food and drinks.

The Knox, Harrogate, North Yorkshire​​

This is a community cracker housed in a former farmhouse tucked away on the edges of popular Harrogate.

The Knox has quickly built up a strong reputation within it community and further afield, offering a great mix of entertainment, good food and superb drinks.

Run by first time operators Katie and Simon for a number of years, the couple have carved out their own impressive operation and have recently invested into the outdoor space, and even introduced a pair of goats to the delight of local children and families.

Plans for the future remain equally impressive with the couple intending to invest and expand into accommodation on the site to take advantage of its popular tourist location. 

From the front, this unassuming pub appears small, but perfectly formed, with beautiful floral arrangements and plants to entice the customers in. However, head through the pub and into the back garden and you’ll discover a hidden gem and one of the best pub gardens in the area.

Jackie and her team have invested huge amounts of time and energy into creating a stunning outdoor space, featuring an alpine style lodge, dining pods, and more home-made outdoor benches than you can shake a stick at.

Coupled with a dedicated operator that puts hospitality first, this is a pub that is rapidly becoming a destination operation for anyone looking for a first-rate experience.

Heading north of the border, The Cartvale is a stunning example of how a community pub can be transformed into an impressive operation.

While being an experienced hospitality operator, the site is Rick Houston first pub and he’s hit the ground running, creating a superb business that is the pride of the local community.

Internally the pub is a gem, offering a great mix of traditional pub, dining space and even a private dining room for those looking to celebrate together.

Outside has also seen Rick and the team reclaim the untamed garden to create an impressive space that has helped to double the opportunity for the business, with a stretch tent to the rear to allow that trade to continue year round.

This is an impressive multi-use venue on the outskirts of Birmingham which is rapidly getting a name for itself as a live music site.

With space spread across a range of floors and bars, and a deal with a local vegan pop-up business in the kitchen, this is a bar that looks set to start making waves on the local scene.

A Cuban theme sees a great selection of rums on tap, and the cocktail list is broad and impressive.

With a quirky outdoor space and room to expand further within the extensive site, this is a pub that is only going to grow in stature as it moves forward.