Since he started his career in 2006, the stand-up star has become well-known for his observational comedy, live shows and TV appearances including programmes like Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo, and 8 Out of 10 Cats.
In 2022, the comic came in fifth place on ITV’s survival reality TV show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Walsh also appeared in Comedy Central’s Big Bad World in 2013 and has hosted Netflix’s physical gameshow Flinch since 2019.
Memorable occasion
As well as a solo podcast called Class Clown, which explores his guests’ childhoods and how their upbringing shaped them, Walsh also co-hosts Oh My Dog! with Jack Dee, about their dogs and life with pets, plus What’s Upset You Now? with Paul McCaffrey, where they discuss things that infuriate their guests.
Organised by The Morning Advertiser (MA), the awards, now in their 26th year, will be take place at the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds on Wednesday 24 September 2025 for a celebration of epic proportions.
Hundreds of pubs entered the competition, before expert judges whittled it down across two rounds of judging with on-the-road site visits taking place across the summer.
The MA editor Ed Bedington said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Seann Walsh hosting this year’s Great British Pub Awards. Seann brings a fantastic mix of wit and energy, which we’re confident will add to the excitement of the evening and make it a truly memorable occasion.
Celebrate success
“The Great British Pub Awards is always a highlight in the industry calendar, shining a light on the incredible talent, dedication and innovation within the pub sector.
“It’s a chance to come together, celebrate success, and recognise the hard work of some of the very best pubs and people in the business. We can’t wait to welcome everyone and raise a glass to this year’s winners.”
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
