Meet the finalists for Punch Pub of the Year

This is a beautiful village pub in the idyllic Farnley Tyas just a few miles outside of Huddersfield, and new operators Ellie Allan and Ben Rossun have quickly made their mark, creating a pub to be proud of and one that people are travelling to from far and wide.

A strong focus on food in this 200-year-old pub keeps the punters coming, alongside its traditional character and features.

Ellie and Ben are experienced hospitality workers, but this is their first site, and despite taking it on during the challenges of recent years, they’ve turned it into a first-rate operation to the extent where Ben is now being drafted into to do training elsewhere in the Punch estate.

When it comes to picture-postcard villages, you’d be hard pressed to find a better version than Shamley, and the Red Lion plays a major part in that. Recently taken on by experienced operator Sean Kelly, the pub is an absolute gem, offering a first rate food and drink offer to the local community.

Bringing a wealth of experience from across the pub sector Sean has created a fantastic offer with real attention to detail in a picturesque little pub with a stunning beer garden at the rear.

That attention to detail extends to the team and Sean’s focus on training and development is to be applauded, and it clearly pays dividends to the operation as well.

Another pub that puts the community at the heart of its business, with the operators regularly being drafted in to help locals get to things like hospital appointments and even lending shoes to a local for a job interview!

Operators Diane and Mark Burton have worked exceptionally hard to create a beautiful pub that’s become a firm favourite with its locals. A recent £300,000 investment into the site, a strong food and drink offer, alongside a focus on community events and charity initiatives have helped to cement the pub's reputation and given it a well-deserved space in this competition.

Describing itself as a “proper country pub in a proper Cornish village” the Trelowarren Arms certainly lives up to that reputation. Affectionately known as the Trelly, this is a beautiful pub that appeals to both locals and visitors to a stunning part of Cornwall.

Recent investment has seen operators Martin and Anna Cavanagh create an impressive outdoor space to the rear of the site, offering covered seating to extend the al-fresco opportunity year round.

The pair have also made strong connections with the local community, even taking over the operation of local post office services after the village post office closed down.

Inclusivity is a key part of this fantastic city centre operation run for the last 19 years by Alan Nichols, who says he didn’t want to create a gay bar, but rather a “bar that gay people would want to drink in” as well as being “straight-friendly” and he’s created a welcoming space for anyone in the heart of Edinburgh.

This wet-led operation is a little gem, with quirky touches throughout, but it also works hard to connect and support the local LGBTQ community and offer a welcoming and safe space for all.

A great drinks range which includes a nice line up of cask beers completes the picture for this little cracker of a pub.

Offering cask ales and live music, the Station is an urban treat just on the outskirts of Birmingham in Kings Heath. A quirky and cool interior gives way to extensive and impressive outdoor spaces including an outdoor bar to keep the party going during the summer.

Community is a huge part of the mix for The Station, and operators Darren and Adelle Paul have worked hard to establish the business with a range of initiatives and schemes, particularly during the pandemic, but also recently collecting essentials for the war refugees in Ukraine, with Darren even driving a van across to Poland to help deliver much needed supplies.