Top 50 Gastropubs in the UK revealed for 2020

Gastropubs. Many say that they're the saviours of the pub industry, and some say they killed proper pub culture. But leaving opinions to one side, these easy-going eateries have become a staple of any town, village or city. One question remains, however, and that is: which of them is the best?

The Method

To decide, Estrella Damm have dreamed up an adjudication process that is about as comprehensive and objective as it could be. Taking lead from Churchill, who said that 'the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter', they've kept this precious decision out of the general public's hands and offered the vote to experts. How Platonic. The voters included gastropub operators (who are not allowed to vote for their own pubs, obviously), food writers, pubco catering development managers and chefs, celebrity chefs, hospitality industry chefs, pub guide editors, industry chiefs and food operators. Essentially, it is a decision made by the industry.

To make sure that each part of the UK has an equal opportunity, the voters were split equally into six geographical areas, with an equal number of votes collected in each by the Top 50 Gastropubs Voting Academy. The shortlisted pubs were then tested by experts from the panel to reach a final decision.

The Results

1 - The Harwood Arms, Fulham, London

2 - The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent

3 - Freemasons at Wiswell, Clitheroe, Lancashire

4 - The Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire

5 - The Coach, Marlow, Buckinghamshire

6 - The Compasses Inn, Canterbury, Kent

7 - Parkers Arms, Nr Clitheroe, Lancashire

8 - The Pony and Trap, Chew Magna, Bristol

9 - The White Swan, Burnley, Lancashire

10 - The Guinea Grill, Mayfair, London

11 - The Angel at Hetton, Skipton, North Yorkshire

12 - The Hand and Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire

13 - The Staith House, Low Lights, North Shields

14 - The Marksman, Hackney, London

15 - The Rat Inn, Hexham, Northumberland

16 - The Cornish Arms, Tavistock, Devon

17 - The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury, Kent

18 - The Crown, Maidenhead, Berkshire

19 - The Hardwick, Abergavenny, Wales

20 - The Boat Inn, Lichfield, Staffordshire

21 - The Red Lion and Sun, Highgate, London

22 - The Drapers Arms, Islington, London

23 - The Mariners, Rock, Cornwall

24 - The Pipe and Glass Inn, South Dalton, East Yorkshire

25 - The Beehive, Maidenhead, Berkshire

26 - The Black Bull, Sedburgh, Cumbria

27 - The Olive Branch, Rutland, East Midlands

28 - The Kentish Hare, Bidborough, Kent

29 - The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge, Suffolk

30 - The Broad Chare, Quayside, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

31 - The Swan, Bampton, Devon

32 - Tim Allen's Flitch of Bacon, Little Dunmow, Essex

33 - St Tudy Inn, Bodmin, Cornwall

34 - The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk

35 - Canton Arms, Stockwell, London

36 - The Oxford Blue, Winsor, Berkshire

37 - The Scran and Scallie, Stockbridge, Edinburgh

38 - The Anchor and Hope, Waterloo, London

39 - The French House, Soho, London

40 - The Longs Arms, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire

41 - Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax, West Yorkshire

42 - The Wild Rabbit, Kingham, Oxfordshire

43 - The Charlton Arms, Ludlow, Shropshire

44 - The White Post, Yeovil, Summerset

45 - The Gunton Arms, Norwich, Norfolk

46 - Royal Oak Paley Street, Maidenhead, Berkshire

47 - The Bell, Langford, Nr. Burford

48 - The Cadeleigh Arms, Cadeleigh, Tiverton

49 - The Dog at Wingham, Wingham, Canterbury

50 - The Five Bells Inn, Cylst Hydon, Cullompton, Exeter

If you'd like more information on each pub, have a look at the information provided on the Estrelle Damm Top 50 Gastopubs website.

Have you been to any of the pubs on the list?