Meet the winner of the Best Pub Garden 2023 sponsored by Diageo

With five acres of garden, the Gaggle of Geese in Buckland Newton has something for everyone in its outside space.

The spacious external area is home to pygmy goats as well as a crazy golf course and play bus – a soft play inside a double decker bus.

Outdoor activities​

But that’s not all. It also hosts a ping-pong shack and ice cream parlour for guests to enjoy whatever the weather. In fact, the pub also has a tipi outside that hosts live music and events undercover. This is in addition to serving wood-fired pizza from its airstream.

The pub’s camping set up means it has some 90 more guests, in addition to those in the bar and restaurant area inside.

Its camping offer includes three shepherd’s huts, featuring king-sized beds, wood-burning stoves and bathroom facilities.

Camping offer​

There are also bell tents available for guests to stay in comfort alongside plenty of space for those who want to bring their own tents.

Sustainability is also a key area of the operation with a plethora of produce grown on site and used in dishes alongside letting a number of areas outside grow wild, allowing wildlife to nest and insects to pollinate.

Future plans include looking to expand the events side of the business, providing a perfect place for special occasions such as weddings to be celebrated.

Full list of 2023 GBPA winners:​

Great British Pub of the Year 2023 – the Cholmondeley Arms, Malpas, Cheshire​

Best City/Urban Pub – the Turks Head, Twickenham, Greater London​

Best Country/Rural Pub – the Cholmondeley Arms, Malpas, Cheshire​

Best Pub for Food – the Loch & The Tyne, Old Windsor, Berkshire​

Best Pub for Dogs – the Bellflower, Garstang, Lancashire​

Best Pub for Families – the Plough, Normanton on the Wolds, Nottinghamshire​

Best Pub for Entertainment – the Kings Arms, Bexleyheath, south east London​

Best Pub Garden – Gaggle of Geese, Buckland Newton, Dorset

Best Pub to Watch Sport – the Royal Dyche, Burnley, Lancashire​

Best Sustainable Pub – Stroud Brewery Taproom, Stroud, Gloucestershire

Best Pub Chef – Charlotte Vincent, Candlelight Inn, Chard, Somerset

Best Young Pub Chef – Karl Quirante, the Cricketers, Ormskirk, Lancashire

Community Hero – the Old Abbey Taphouse, Manchester​

Admiral Pub of the Year – Boot & Shoe, Ackworth, Pontefract, West Yorkshire​

Stonegate Pub of the Year – the Woodman, Ruislip, north west London​

Greene King Pub of the Year – the Stag, Lyndhurst, Hampshire​

Marston’s Pub of the Year – Rose & Crown, Worcester, Worcestershire​

Punch Pub of the Year – the Plough, Prestbury, Gloucestershire