The Star
This traditional, beer-led country-style pub in Sandal, was reopened by publicans Sam Collins and Ged Morton nearly 10 years ago.
The West Yorkshire pub, which prides itself on its traditional pub offer and values with no TVs and swearing allowed, has a range of characterful design features, real fires, a recently redeveloped beer garden and outside paddock events space where it hosts beer festivals, sports screenings and private parties.
Beer is at the heart of the pub’s offer, including its own brews as it’s the home to the Morton Collins microbrewery, set-up by the Star’s publicans.
An ever-popular Monday pie night, as well as weekly quizzes, charity events and its thriving beer festivals help keep things exciting for customers.
The Cobbler
Food, families, footie and four-legged friends are at the heart of the offer at the Cobbler, a big pub with a carvery offer located a mile from Pontefract town centre.
Publicans Andrew and Ali, have been at the helm of the Cobbler, which has an extensive childrens’ play area and outside seating, several screens showing live sports and a dog-friendly sheltered seating space, for 15 years and run it alongside several family members.
As well as its successful carvery offer, which features a salad deck as well as extensive tasty vegetable accompaniments, the pub also offers a big main menu including snacks, burgers and steaks.
The Cow Shed at the Ship Inn
This family-run pub serves up great food, drinks, events and warm hospitality seven days a week.
The Lamba family have run the 17th century Ship Inn for over four years and have created a pub offer, which has an American smokehouse menu (including breakfast) at its heart, which is enjoyed by both locals and destination visitors.
The pub also has a strong community focus, hosting darts teams, quiz nights and regular live music events whilst also supporting lots of local projects and charities, including providing free childrens’ meals.
It’s also a popular venue for private events and a cake business was launched earlier this year to complement this.
Exciting events also run through the year at the Kent site, including immersive film screenings with a themed dinner, dog festival, family fun days and breakfast with Santa for both kids and dogs.
The Three Horseshoes
Publican Peter Slinger has created a pub for everyone during the 11 years he has been at the helm of this traditional pub on the edge of Cranleigh.
From cask ale lovers, young families, younger drinkers to dog owners and the grey pound the Three Horseshoes has something to appeal, including a childrens’ play area, garden ‘wine huts’ complete with fans, heaters, and USB points, as well as roaring fires in the winter and a traditional menu offering comforting classics such as pies and liver and bacon.
Real ale is at the heart of the drink’s offer at this CAMRA award-winning pub, which is dispensed through the extractor rod system, widget system and sometimes still through the gravity method.
The Bell Inn
A strong food, drink, accommodation and garden offer, as well as its great community focus, is at the heart of the Bell Inn’s ongoing success.
The Broadheath-based pub, which has been run by publicans Ian and Lyndsey Davies for the past 18 years, attracts visitors from around the world to stay in its five lovely, well-priced bedrooms, but also has a strong local customer base.
It’s successful food offer includes breakfast, cakes, a footfall driving mid-week lunch menu, as well as coveted Sunday roasts and a la carte dishes.
Continuing investment in garden play equipment helps the Worcestershire pub remain a popular place with families and its attractive garden room, which is used all year, is another great asset, including as a venue for its now annual fundraising Christmas models display.
The Gower Inn
Publican Chris Blakeborough-Pownall has transformed the Gower Inn, in the two years since taking it on, into a thriving pub rated by locals and tourists alike.
Located in the Gower Peninsula, nearby to several popular beaches, the pub has a great offer for both drinkers and diners, with its hunting lodge style Lucky Shot bar offering a wonderful atmosphere for drinkers, who can even sup on the pub’s own (and Wales’ only black spiced rum) Tân Du, launched in the past year.
Its main bar area and upstairs restaurant, with its striking Viking-inspired décor, provide an inviting space for diners, who enjoy the pub’s main menu of timeless pub favourites, exciting specials or pre-ordered wow factor sharing dishes including a whole suckling pig and bone-in beef shin.
It’s most recent innovation is the launch of a striking new additional beer garden and outdoor bar.
