The Crown Wharf, in Stone, was named the overall Great British Pub of the Year in the Great British Pub Awards, after judges were impressed with its achievements in a short space of time.
Not many new pubs are being built in this current market, and few built to the standards of excellence as the Crown Wharf, which initially took the title of Town Pub of the Year at the awards this evening (Wednesday 24 September) at a glittering ceremony held at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
Created as a standout brewery tap site for owners Joules, work started on the site, the original location for one of the first of the company’s breweries, back in 2019, before grinding to a halt when Covid struck.
Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organises the awards, said: “This is what can happen when hospitality businesses are given the room and capacity to invest into an area – they create jobs, wealth and community assets. All of which are currently at risk from our Government’s current strategy of taxation, which is strangling projects like this.
“Not many new pubs are being built, and the Crown Wharf is a fantastic addition to a sector which is in danger of disappearing. I take my hat off to Joules for having the courage, foresight and sheer grit to battle on to create such a stunning business, one that is a testament to everything we should celebrate about the Great British Pub.”
The Crown Wharf saw off strong competition from other pubs across the UK, with 17 category winners revealed.
Other winners this year included historic rural retreat the Fleece Inn, Bretforton, which was named Best Country Pub – the National Trust owned pub has become a local institution under the care of licensee Nigel Smith.
The capital saw success with two London pubs taking home trophies – the Perry Hill Pub was hailed Best Pub for Families while the Fox in Keston was named Stonegate Pub of the Year.
The Best Pub Garden and Best Pub to Watch Sport were both in Leeds with the outside area of the Myrtle Tavern in Meanwood wowing the judges for the second year running and Pinnacle Sports & Games in the city’s centre was named the ultimate place for sports.
Bedington added: “Pubs are a huge part of British cultural life and we’re thrilled to unveil the finest examples from across the UK. These pubs truly stand out and represent the best of the best when it comes to offering the quintessential pub experience to guests.
“All of our winners excel across the board, but I’m delighted to reveal that the Crown Wharf has taken the overall title of the pub.
“This is a new build project which draws on all the traditions of the Great British Pub to create a venue that is both modern and comfortably familiar at the same time. It’s a shining example of community value and hospitality at its best.”
The 2025 Great British Pub Award winners in full:
Best Beer Pub
Blind Jack’s – Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
Best Community Pub
Chaplin’s & the Cellar Bar – Boscombe, Bournemouth
Best Country Pub
The Fleece Inn – Bretforton, Evesham, Worcestershire
Best Pub for Dogs
The Old Duke – Southport, Merseyside
Best Pub for Entertainment
The Keynsham Courtyard – Keynsham, Bristol
Best Pub for Families
Perry Hill Pub – London
Best Pub for Food
The Bull, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
Best Pub Garden
The Myrtle Tavern – Meanwood, Leeds
Best Pub to Watch Sport
Pinnacle Sports & Games – Leeds
Best Sustainable Pub
The George – Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire
Best Town Pub
Crown Wharf – Stone, Staffordshire
Admiral Taverns Pub of the Year
The Gasoline – Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Greene King Pub of the Year
The Star – Godalming, Surrey
Marston’s Pub of the Year
The Manor House of Whittington – Kinver, Stourbridge
Punch Pub of the Year
Anglesey Arms – Halnaker, Chichester, West Sussex
Star Pub of the Year
The Black Pug – Warwick
Stonegate Pub of the Year
The Fox in Keston – Greater London
On receiving the award, Joules Brewery managing director Vicky Colclough told The Morning Advertiser the win was incredible for the business.
She continued: “The Crown Wharf wasn’t here six years ago.
“We have created something really special for the town of Stone.
“We have heard a lot this evening about doing the basics really well, but you need a phenomenal team to do that, you need people that will listen and that will train with care.
“The Crown Wharf is such a testament to what the brewery believes is a fantastic pub so to win this award is phenomenal.“
Colclough added the business had big plans for next year, in particular regarding its expansion into Birmingham as well as reinvesting in its existing tap house estate.