The UK’s Top 50 gastropubs have been revealed – and 4 of the top 5 are in the north
The Top 50 gastropubs in the UK have been revealed, and it’s safe to say we’re well and truly spoilt here in the north.
Four out of five of the country’s very best foodie pubs are located up north, with number two – The Parkers Arms in Clitheroe – just an hour’s drive from Manchester.
Time to start making some bookings.
Despite being pipped to the top spot by Suffolk’s Unruly Pig, the Clitheroe pub has still leapt up two spots from its 2021 position to make it the best in the north of England, according to the prestigious Estrella Damn Top 50 Gastropubs 2022 list.
Other pubs up north to achieve recognition in the list include The Star Inn (Harome, North Yorkshire), The Angel (Hetton, Skipton), and Freemasons (Wiswell, Clitheroe), ranking at numbers 3, 4 and 5 respectively.
It’s certainly been an eventful year for Michelin-starred pub The Star Inn, which burnt down in a fire in 2020 – yet still managed to claim one of the top spots, despite only having been back open for a few months.
Further down the list sits the critically acclaimed Pack Horse at Hayfield, which sits at the foot of Kinder Scout and is only a 50-minute drive from Manchester. The pub was also recently added to the Michelin Guide, to the delight of chef-owner Luke Payne.
In total, fifteen northern pubs made it into the top 50 list, with more notable selections close to Manchester including West Yorkshire pubs The Moorcock in Sowerby Bridge, and The Shibden Mill Inn.
Suffolk’s Unruly Pig, meanwhile, was been crowned the UK’s finest, moving up from last year’s Highest Climber category to become the very best in the Estrella Damn Top 50 Gastropubs 2022 list today.
The Top 50 Gastropubs list, now in its 13th year, ranks the UK’s best gastropubs according to the votes from more than 400 gastropub owners, food critics and other industry experts.
Chris Lowe,, Top 50 Gastropubs publisher, said: “After a tough two years for the hospitality industry, we are thrilled to see such a strong list of contenders this year, including a new number one and several new entrants!
“The Top 50 Gastropubs provides a platform for food-lovers to explore the very best offerings across the UK. We are delighted to host this year’s event in Manchester for the first time, highlighting the range of talent across the UK.
“I’m incredibly delighted for Brendan and everyone at The Unruly Pig to get the number 1 spot.”
Further northern pubs to feature in the list include The Rat Inn (Anick, Hexham) The Broad Chare (Newcastle Upon Tyne), The Higher Buck, Waddington (near Manchester), The Pipe and Glass, (Barnsley,Yorkshire), The Shibden Mill Inn (Shibden, West Yorkshire), The White Swan at Fence (Fence, Burnley), Heft (High Newton, Lancashire), The Higher Buck (Waddington, Lancashire) and The Hovingham Inn (Yorkshire).
James Healey, UK Country Manager for Estrella Damm, said: “As the authentic premium beer of Barcelona, Estrella Damm is proud to continue to support the UK’s gastropubs.
“This is the seventh year that we have sponsored the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub Awards, an awards ceremony that celebrates high calibre ingredients, culinary excellence and innovation, qualities that are also shared by Estrella Damm.
“We want to extend our congratulations to all 50 gastropubs on the list and hope more pub-goers are lucky enough to experience their talent in 2022.”
The Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs 2022 list is as follows:
1 The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge
2 Parkers Arms, Clitheroe
3 The Star Inn at Harome, Harome
4 The Angel at Hetton, Hetton
5 Freemasons at Wiswell, Clitheroe
6 The Sportsman, Whitstable
7 The Guinea Grill, London
8 The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury
9 The Mariners, Rock
10 The Hand & Flowers, Marlow
11 The Beehive, White Waltham
12 The Kentish Hare, Bidborough
13 The Coach, Marlow
14 The Cornish Arms, Tavistock
15 The Harwood Arms, London
16 The Red Lion and Sun, London
17 The Pyne Arms, Barnstaple
18 The Rat Inn, Anick
19 The Broad Chare, Newcastle Upon Tyne
20 The Hardwick, Abergavenny
21 The Bull & Last, London
22 The Masons Arms, Knowstone
23 The Pipe and Glass, Barnsley
24 The Longs Arms, South Wraxall
25 The Swan, Bampton
26 The White Swan at Fence, Fence
27 The Loch and The Tyne, Old Windsor
28 The Duncombe Arms, Ashbourne
29 The French House, Soho
30 The Moorcock, Norland Moor
31 The Shibden Mill Inn, Shibden
32 The Pack Horse, Hayfield
33 Heft, High Newton
34 The Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon
35 The Five Bells Inn, Cullompton
36 St Kew Inn, Bodmin
37 The Castle Inn, Castle Combe
38 The Canton Arms, Stockwell
39 The Higher Buck, Waddington
40 The Duck Inn, Pett Bottom
41 The Hovingham Inn, Yorkshire
42 The Plough, Coton
43 The Three Hills, Bartlow
44 The Hind’s Head, Bray
45 The Dog at Wingham, Wingham
46 The Bell Inn, Langford
47 The Black Bear Inn, Usk
48 The Cadeleigh Arms, Tiverton
49 The Bailiwick Free House, Egham
50 The Cross, Kenilworth
Feature image – The Parkers Arms