The top pubs in Britain that stand a chance of being crowned the overall best boozer in the country have been announced today.
Winning pubs in each region have been revealed by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), and are shortlisted for the national title of Pub of the Year, which will be announced in January.
The 16 boozers from Bodmin, Cornwall to Rhos yr Hafod Inn in Wales, have beaten out thousands of nominations and are hoping to take over the accolade from 2024 Pub of the Year.
Many of the winners are renowned for their history or quirky culture, and include venues that are more than 300 years old, host their own collection of pub memorabilia and even hold regular bat watching sessions for locals.
From the list, four pubs will be selected to be the final shortlisted venues, which will be announced in October.
The list has been unveiled ahead of the August bank holiday, as CAMRA urges Brits to head down and support their local pub this weekend.
It follows a particularly difficult few years for British pubs, with an estimated eight closing every week.
Some 209 venues were demolished or converted into another use in the first half of 2025, and around 2,250 have closed since the start of 2019.
Factors considered by the competition’s judges include atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, inclusivity and overall impression. They also examine each venue’s cask beer, real cider and perry.
In East Anglia, Blackfriars Tavern in Great Yarmouth has won the regional competition for the second year running.
The Victorian era boozer first opened in 1865 but was forced to close in 2008, before changing hands in 2011 and reopening after the pandemic in 2021.
As well as its wide range of British ales and cider, it also has a variety of Belgian beers for punters to sample.
In East Central England The Orange Tree in Baldock, Hertfordshire has come out on top.
The Greene King pub is 300 years old and is a cornerstone of the local community, being home to more than ten local clubs and societies.
It is known for its impressive malt whisky and vintage bottled beer collections.
The Burnt Pig in Ilkeston, East Midlands also made the shortlist.
The popular venue opened just ten years ago in 2015 by a local businessman and is home to a collection of historic pub memorabilia.
It has appeared in CAMRA’s annual guides frequently and won Derbyshire pub of the year this year.
In London, The Hope in Carshalton has been crowned the victor of its regional category.
The pub ‘by beer enthusiasts for beer enthusiasts’ is unusual as it has a piano for entertainment, but no TV or fruit machines.
The Cricketers Arms in St Helens, Merseyside, is making a return to the shortlist after winning the highly sought after national title in 2017.
The pub has an on-site award-winning Howzat brewery which produces their own house beers for the pub and other local venues.
In the North East, Durham’s Station house was crowned victorious for the second time after coming second nationally in 2022.
The former furniture shop reopened as a pub in 2015, with beer and cider served by staff from the cellar hatch.
In the neighbouring North West, Cumberland Inn in Alston, Cumbria is the best pub of the region.
It has previously won many other CAMRA awards including the local cider pub of the year award in 2013, 2014 and 2020.
Meanwhile Northern Ireland’s best pub is The Dog and Duck Inn in Lisbellaw.
Anyone wanting to make the short trip over the sea can expect 14 guest taps in addition to its regular beers and ciders, which saw it win national cider pub of the year in 2024.
The pub is also home to the Glenwinny distillery producing small batch Irish Whisky.
The Volunteer Arms, known as Staggs to locals, in Scotland is also shortlisted, and has been run by the same family since the mid 1850s.
The venue has collected mirrors from local defunct breweries over the years.
In South Central England, The Bell Inn in Aldworth, Berkshire, is on the shortlist and has the only Heritage Pub Interior in the county.
It is named after the bells which were part of the coat of arms from its historic landowners.
In a departure from the traditional pub, the winner in the South East is The Royston in Thanet, Kent.
The venue is both a pub and coffeehouse, and is decorated in an eclectic mix of Victorian, steampunk and art deco themes.
In the South West, Cornwall’s Hole In The Wall in Bodmin won the regional accolade, after being crowned Cornwall’s pub of the year in 2024.
It was described by judges as a ‘welcoming community pub’ that is popular with locals and tourists alike.
Rhos yr Hafod Inn, also known as Cross Inn, took the regional title in Wales, after winning local pub of the year in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The boozer has a back room filled with old photographs of local scenes and has at least two Welsh ales at all times.
Pelican Inn in Gloucester, associated with the Wye Valley Brewery, won in the West Central region.
The Grade II listed pub is a favourite among locals and rugby fans, and is rumoured to have been built using wooden beams from explorer Francis Drake’s Golden Hind ship – which was originally called Pelican.
In the West Midlands, The Tamworth Tap in Tamworth is again a regional victor, and won the national award in 2022 and 2023.
The part-Tudor building hosts all sorts of local events including bat watching evenings and ‘paint and sip’ sessions.
Finally in Yorkshire, the Beer Engine in Skipton completes the list of regional winners.
Located in a tiny street between the town centre and canal, it also won the regional title in 2023.
Andrea Briers, CAMRA’s Pub of the Year Co-ordinator said: ‘It is a real pleasure to announce this year’s top 16 pubs, each of which has demonstrated exceptional quality, warmth and dedication to their communities.
‘These pubs are shining examples of what makes the Great British pub so special, from perfectly kept pints to a genuine welcome for all.
‘Achieving this in the face of rising costs and other pressures is no small feat, and we want to see these pubs, and thousands of others like them, continue to thrive.
‘That’s why we’re calling on the Chancellor to give pubs a fair deal in the Autumn Budget, so they can keep serving their communities for many years to come.’
