GBPA finalists revealed: Did you make the list?

2025 Great British Pub Awards open for entry
Finalists revealed in the 2025 Great British Pub Awards (The Morning Advertiser)

The finalists in the running for the ultimate prize in the pub sector have been named and the race to take the title of Great British Pub of the Year is hotting up.

The awards, which recognise excellence across the pub sector, have been running for more than three decades now and pubs across the UK are in the running to take the ultimate accolade.

Last year saw the Tollemache Arms in Northampton claim the overall win and licensee Joe Buckley said: “The Great British Pub Awards win was incredible, we have been lucky to win many awards but this really was the one!

“It really put us on the map and brought in a lot of new customers and incredible press attention from, we had our busiest ever year. The team is buzzing and it’s been a great boost for morale.”

Ed Bedington, editor of the MA, which organises the awards, said: “I’m delighted to reveal our finalists for the competition this year. Judging was particularly challenging across all our categories, with strong entries across the board, so those that have made the final should feel extremely proud of that achievement.

“Next stage will see judges hitting the road and making unannounced visits on the pubs on the list, so I look forward to visiting some of those operations and picking out our winners down the line.

“This is a great competition and allows us to shine a positive light on the sector, and hopefully give those businesses a much needed shot in the arm as well. Once again, congratulations to our finalists for 2025.”

The awards are kindly sponsored by Arla Pro, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Admiral, Diageo, Greene King, Molson Coors, Star Pubs, Stonegate, Marstons, SIBA and Punch Pubs & Co.

The 2025 finalists are:

Admiral Taverns Pub of the Year

The Castle, Swindon, Wiltshire

The Sun, Birchington, Kent

The Rising Sun, Brentwood, Essex

The Gasoline, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

The Tavern, Hatton, Derbyshire

The Chrystal Bell, Glasgow

Greene King Pub of the Year

The Star, Godalming, Surrey

The Portland Arms, Cambridge

The Red Lion, Milton Bryan, Milton Keynes

The Swan, Needham Market, Suffolk

The Norton Arms, Runcorn, Cheshire

The Old Ship, Perth, Scotland

Marston’s Pub of the Year

Old Arcade, Cardiff

High Orchard, Gloucester

Red Lion, Newburgh, Parbold, Lancashire

The Grapes, Belper, Derbyshire

Honeystone, Hunstanton, Norfolk

The Manor House of Whittingham, Stourbridge, West Midlands

Punch Pub of the Year

The Wollaton, Wollaton, Nottinghamshire

The Holly Bush, Bordon, Hampshire

Phoenix, Corby, Northamptonshire

Piper, Chester, Cheshire

Anglesey Arms, Chichester, West Sussex

Dun Cow, Salthouse, Holt, Norfolk

Star Pub of the Year

The Cartvale, Glasgow

The Merlin, Billingham, County Durham

The Boat & Horses, Beeston, Nottingham

The Black Pug, Warwick

Kings Arms, Orsett, Grays, Essex

The Langton, Bristol

Stonegate Pub of the Year

Old Windmill, Coventry

Plough Inn, Lichfield, Staffordshire

Fox, Keston, Bromley, Greater London

Bay Horse, Hurworth, County Durham

Olde Nags Head, Manchester

Gower Inn, Swansea

Best Town Pub

Binary, Mickleover, Derby

Crown Wharf, Stone, Staffordshire

The Star Coffee & Ale House, Ryde, Isle of Wight

Pied Bull, Chester, Cheshire

The Ship Tavern, Holborn, London

The Wykeham Arms, Winchester, Hampshire

Best Beer Pub

Cask Pub & Kitchen, Pimlico, London

The Riverhead Brewery Tap, Marsden, Huddersfield

Blind Jack’s, Knaresborough, Yorkshire

Bowland Beer Hall, Clitheroe, Cumbria

Granville’s Beer & Gin House, Horsforth, Yorkshire

The Tamworth Tap, Tamworth, Staffordshire

Best Community Pub

Lock & Quay Community Pub, Bootle, Merseyside

The Rose and Crown, Ashbury, Swindon

The Swan, Clewer, Windsor

Clissold Arms Gastro Pub, East Finchley, London

The Tynesider, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

Chaplins & The Cellar Bar, Boscombe, Bournemouth

Best Country Pub

The Sun Inn, Market Harborough, Leicestershire

The Tollemache Arms, Harrington, Northamptonshire

The Tally Ho Inn, Bouldon, Shropshire

The Turkey Inn, Laycock, Yorkshire

The Fleece Inn, Evesham, Worcestershire

The Ashford Arms, Ashford in the Water, Bakewell

Best Pub for Dogs

The Howard Arms, Brampton, Cumbria

The Maltings, Warrington, Cheshire

The Old Duke, Southport, Merseyside

Queens Head, Windermere, Cumbria

The Red Lion, Long Compton, Warwickshire

The Mill, Stokesley, Middlesbrough

Best Pub for Entertainment

The Keynsham Courtyard, Keynsham, Bristol

Pontardawe Inn, Pontardawe, South Wales

Bonnie Rogues, Cardiff, South Wales

The Mayfield, Seamer, Yorkshire

The Goose, Manchester

Chaplins & The Cellar Bar, Boscombe, Bournemouth

Best Pub for Families

The Plough, Prestbury, Cheltenham

Three Mile, Newcastle upon Tyne

Perry Hill Pub, Perry Hill, London

The Old Thatch, Wimborne, Dorset

The Airport Pub, Manchester

Gaggle of Geese, Dorchester, Dorset

Best Pub for Food

Heft, Newton in Carmel, Cumbria

The Bull, Charlbury, Oxfordshire

The Black Bull, Sedburgh, Cumbria

The Tartan Fox by Adam Handling, Newquay, Cornwall

The Bull & Swan, Stamford, Leicestershire

Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax, Yorkshire

Best Pub Garden

The Black Friar, Salford, Manchester

Myrtle Tavern, Leeds, Yorkshire

Hare & Hounds, Wakefield, Yorkshire

The Mutton, Hazeley Heath, Hampshire

The Old Crown, Digbeth, Birmingham

Gaggle of Geese, Dorchester, Dorset

Best Pub to Watch Sport

Spy Bar, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne

The Gardeners Arms/The Murderers, Norwich, Norfolk

Pinnacle Sports & Games, Leeds, Yorkshire

The Cherry Tree, Plymouth, Devon

The Minories, London

The Kings Arms, Kings Heath, Birmingham

Best Sustainable Pub

The Pig’s Ear, Chelsea, London

The George, Castleton, Derbyshire

The Bull, Charlbury, Oxfordshire

The Loch & the Tyne by Adam Handling, Windsor, Berkshire

The Bat and Ball, Fordingbridge, Wiltshire

Fox & Hounds, Royston, Hertfordshire