PubAid Community Pub Hero finalists unveiled

PubAid Community Pub Hero Awards 2025 finalists revealed
Sector celebration: (l-r) Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Kevin Hollinrake MP alongside Vicky and John Judson from the George in Castleton, Derbyshire who took home an award last year and are shortlisted for 2025 (PubAid)

More than 30 pubs from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been shortlisted for the PubAid Community Pub Hero Awards 2025.

The awards, which are sponsored by long-standing partner Matthew Clarke, highlight the pubs that have gone above and beyond to support their communities, raise vital funds , support grassroots sports and champion sustainability.

A panel of experts selected the final list, with each bringing a wealth of experience and insights into the pub industry and community engagement.

These included:

  • All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group honorary secretary and PubAid steering group member Rita King
  • C&C Group head of ESG George Kyle
  • Licensed Trade Charity head of marketing and PubAid steering group member Paula Smith
  • Westons Australia MD and head of business development Darryl Hinksman
  • Daniel Thwaites operations director of pubs and brewing Andrew Buchanan
  • Matthew Clark regional sales director Joe Burke
  • Asahi national account controller Jon Fuller
  • Matthew Clark sales and operation director for Scotland Jason Cockburn

Winners are set to be revealed at a prestigious ceremony on Tuesday 4 March at the Houses of Parliament, which will be hosted by All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group chair Tonia Antoniazzi MP.

The finalists are:

Community Support Hero

England

  • Bird in Hand, Stafford
  • Lock & Quay, Merseyside
  • The Rose & Crown, Swindon
  • The Stable Games Room, Weston-Super-Mare

Scotland

  • The Polwarth Tavern, Edinburgh
  • The Station Bar, Alness

Wales

  • George & Dragon, Abergele
  • Tafarn yr Iorwerth, Anglesey
  • White Lion, Cerrigydrudion

Northern Ireland

  • Charlie’s Bar, Enniskillen

Community Fundraising Hero

England

  • The Dam Inn, Wakefield
  • The Nags Head, Dunstable, Kent
  • The Royal Oak, Chapel Ash
  • The Swan, Thornbury

Scotland

  • Craws Best Bar & Lounge, Carnoustie
  • Westerton Arms, Bridge of Allan

Wales

  • King’s Head Inn, Llangennith
  • The Yacht, Conwy

Northern Ireland

  • Halfway House Country Pub, Broughshane

Community Sport Hero

England

  • Lichfield Sports Club
  • Malt Shovel, Selby
  • The Pig & Whistle, London

Scotland

  • The Victoria Inn, Haddington

Wales

  • Pill Harriers Sports & Social Club, Newport
  • Riverside Sports Bar, Newport

UK Community Regular Hero

  • Gerry McMahon and the Plough at Fadmoor, North Yorkshire
  • Les Heyhoe at Kingfisher Caravan Park, Hampshire
  • Martin and Carolyn O’Neill and the Albion Inn, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

UK Sustainability Hero

  • Duke of Wellington, Halifax, West Yorkshire
  • The George, Castleton, Derbyshire
  • The Three Moles, Selham, Petworth, West Sussex

PubAid co-founder Des O’Flanagan said: “These awards highlight the integral role pubs play that far exceed their conventional function as just somewhere to go for a drink.

“We want to recognise the people within these pubs that consistently support their communities and good causes

“The submissions we receive are phenomenal and we’re always blown away reading about the work pubs are doing.”