Eats

These north west gastropubs have just been named as some of the top 50 in the UK

Pubs worth travelling for...

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 23rd January 2024

The UK’s Top 50 Gastropubs have been named, and there’s a great showing for the north west – including a reborn boozer right in the heart of Ancoats.

The Edinburgh Castle shot into the prestigious list for the first time, landing at an impressive 24th place.

The city centre pub wasn’t the only one on our doorstep to make the Estrella Damm UK Top 50 Gastropubs list either – The Pack Horse, just outside Greater Manchester in Hayfield, also snuck into the top 20 this year.

Last year’s top-placed pub, The Parkers Arms in Newton-in-Bowland, managed to stay in the top 10 gastropubs in the UK, ranking seventh.

The Parkers Arms is famed for its pies and its idyllic setting, and was the host venue for last night’s awards.

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Also representing the north west was Freemasons at Wiswell, and The White Swan at Fence.

Over in Yorkshire, The Star Inn in Harome, previously shuttered by a devastating fire but reopened for about a year now, was awarded the eighth spot in the list.

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And despite being open for less than a year, Gary Usher’s Cheshire pub The White Horse made it into the top 100 list.

Gary Usher's The White Horse made the Top 100 Gastropubs list. Credit: The Manc Group
Gary Usher’s The White Horse made the Top 100 Gastropubs list. Credit: The Manc Group
Gary Usher's The White Horse made the Top 100 Gastropubs list. Credit: The Manc Group
Gary Usher’s The White Horse made the Top 100 Gastropubs list. Credit: The Manc Group

Upon receiving the award news, The Edinburgh Castle wrote: “Not only were we delighted to be included in the @top50gastropubs but to have come away as number 24 in the UK is a huge accomplishment.

“Thank you to all our wonderful guests, our dedicated team and of course @top50gastropubs for including us. We can’t wait for the year ahead! Now, we celebrate…”

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The Pack Horse Hayfield shared: “Well, there it is! Our 3rd year in the @top50gastropubs, our 2nd year in a row in the top 20!

“What an honour and a privilege it is to be among our peers, voted for by the industry, it will always be humbling and surreal.

“Massive thanks to the brilliant @theparkersarms for hosting against all the challenges they faced today, and a huge congratulations to @unrulypig on returning to the top. It is so deserved.”

The Edinburgh Castle has ranked highlight in the Top 50 Gastropubs list. Credit: The Manc Group
The Edinburgh Castle has ranked highlight in the Top 50 Gastropubs list. Credit: The Manc Group

The Parkers Arms said: “Delighted to place no 7 in the UK which places us number 1 in Lancashire on the @top50gastropubs list. Thank you to all that voted for us.”

And The White Horse, who placed 68th, said: “What an honour this is! So so proud and to be up there with some amazing other pubs! What a fantastic start to 2024.”

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Ed Bedington, editor of the Morning Advertiser, the pub industry’s main publication and the founders of the awards, said: “Pubs are a beloved institution and part of the UK’s culture, and this list of the most astounding and impressive food pubs in the country is wonderful to see.

“Pubs serve so many roles to so many people, and for operators like the Unruly Pig and all of our list, to be able to offer amazing food and wonderful experiences, up there with some of the best in fine dining, is brilliant to see.”

The full list of the Estrella Damm UK Top 50 Gastropubs 2024

  1. The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge
  2. The Cornish Arms, Tavistock
  3. The Mariners, Rock
  4. The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury
  5. The Sportsman, Seasalter
  6. The Red Lion & Sun, Highgate, London
  7. Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland
  8. The Star Inn, Harome
  9. Freemasons at Wiswell, Wiswell
  10. The Hand & Flowers, Marlow
  11. Heft, High Newton
  12. The Harwood Arms, Fulham, London
  13. The Angel at Hetton, Hetton
  14. The Rat Inn, Hexham
  15. The Bridge Arms, Canterbury
  16. The Dog at Wingham, Wingham
  17. The Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax
  18. The Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market
  19. The Pack Horse, Hayfield
  20. Pyne Arms, Barnstaple
  21. The Coach, Marlow
  22. The Beehive, White Waltham
  23. The Broad Chare, Newcastle
  24. The Edinburgh Castle, Manchester
  25. The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe
  26. The Baring, Islington, London
  27. The Kentish Hare, Tunbridge Wells
  28. The Pipe & Glass Inn, Beverley
  29. The White Swan at Fence, Fence
  30. The Longs Arms, Bath
  31. The Bull & Last, Islington, London
  32. The Black Bear, Usk
  33. The Dog & Gun Inn, Skelton
  34. The Woolpack, Stroud
  35. The Barrington Boar, Barrington
  36. The Parakeet, Kentish Town, London
  37. The Masons Arms, Knowstone
  38. The Abbey Inn, Byland
  39. The Black Bull, Sedbergh
  40. The Cadogan Arms, Chelsea, London
  41. The Bulls Head, Craswall
  42. The Loch and The Tyne, Windsor
  43. The Guinea Grill, Mayfair, London
  44. The Dew Drop Inn, Hurley
  45. The Killingworth Castle, Wootton
  46. The Canton Arms, Stockwell, London
  47. The Double Red Duke, Clanfield
  48. The Duncombe Arms, Ashbourne
  49. The Scran & Scallie, Edinburgh
  50. The Bull, Charlbury

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Featured image: The Manc GroupTi

Eats

Hawksmoor issues statement after ‘kicking out’ Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Hawksmoor issues statement after 'kicking out' Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants

Hawksmoor has issued a statement after a viral video captured far-right activist Tommy Robinson being asked to leave one of its restaurants.

In the video, staff at the acclaimed British steak house told Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – that he would have to go because members of staff feel uncomfortable serving you’.

The supervisor then politely told the party not to worry about the drinks and that they had been paid for, also handing over a business card for Hawksmoor CEO Will Beckett in case they wanted to discuss the matter further.

Robinson was dining in one of the group’s London restaurants with former prominent EDL member Guramit Singh Kalirai who challenged the staff and asked: “Is it because of the colour of my skin?”

The supervisor responded: “No, no, no. We have a duty of care to our members of staff. We like to look after our people, as I’m sure you can understand.”

After the video went viral on X, Hawksmoor went on to share a statement in response, saying that guests and staff ‘felt uncomfortable and complained’.

The statement, signed by CEO Will Beckett, added that the Hawksmoor team has faced ‘a huge amount’ of ‘quite concerning’ fallout from the Tommy Robinson incident.

He added that ‘this was not about politics or beliefs’.

Hawksmoor’s statement reads: “Our focus is always to give the best restaurant experience to the most people possible.

“On Thursday, a public figure was asked to leave one of our restaurants because guests and staff felt uncomfortable and had complained. The party left peacefully and politely on request.

“This was not about politics or beliefs. Hawksmoor is not a political organisation; we’re a group of restaurants. We want to welcome as many people as possible, regardless of background or views, to our teams or as our guests.

“We’re not trying to engage in a public debate. The team has had to deal with a huge amount of fallout from this, some of which is quite concerning. We would like to get back to focussing on looking after those people, and our guests. Thank you to them, and the many of you who have been so supportive.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Indie food and drink festival to return to popular Greater Manchester town for second year

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant YUM! Urmston

A food and drink festival shining a spotlight on independent businesses is returning to Greater Manchester this summer.

Following the success of last year’s tasty debut, Urmston’s very-own independent food and drink festival, YUM! – Your Urmston Matters, is back for its second serving later this month, and will once again be transforming the Trafford town’s M41 site on Railway Road into a buzzing hub of ‘flavour, fun, and local pride’.

Organised by Love Urmston and hosted by Urmston resident and food and drink presenter, Matty White, this community celebration will bring together top local street food vendors, artisan producers, and drink retailers, alongside live cooking demos, family activities, and loads of entertainment.

Now in its second year, YUM! continues to shine a spotlight on Urmston’s indie food scene and the passion of the people behind it, but as well as local residents, it also invites the rest of Trafford and the wider Greater Manchester community to come together.

So whether you just live down the road, or you are discovering the town for the first time, everyone is welcome to pop down.

“Bringing YUM! back for a second year is incredibly exciting,” commented Fred Davids, who is the Chair of the Love Urmston committee.

“It’s a brilliant way to celebrate what makes Urmston special – its community, and fantastic food and drink scene, welcoming people from near and far to experience the town at its best.

“And as a committee, we’re proud to support our incredible local independent businesses who put their heart and soul into everything they do.”

YUM! is returning to Urmston for another delicious festival this month / Credit: Emma Boyle (via Supplied)

Just some of the independent businesses you’ll find at the festival throughout the day include English Rose Bakery, Inforno Pizzeria, Dan’s Cookies, Banga Curries, JJ’s Caribbean Kitchen, The Greek Village, Pomona Island Brewery, Kelder Wines, and so many more.

The festival is also proudly sponsored by Gecko Homes – a north west property developer that specialises in creating affordable and shared ownership homes across many of Manchester’s most popular suburbs. 

You can read more about what Gecko Homes is doing across the region here.

The local property developers helping Mancs buy a home without the large deposit

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YUM! – Your Urmston Matters is back this month on Saturday 21 June, and will be getting underway from 11am through to 5pm.

Featured Image – Emma Boyle (via Supplied)

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