The UK’s best gastro pub has been revealed and it’s just over an hour’s drive from Manchester.
It was revealed last night that The Parkers Arms in Newton-In-Bowland, Clitheroe, has topped the list at this year’s prestigious Estrella Damn Gastropubs, also known as the ‘pub Oscars’.
The female-owned pub, headed up by Kathy Smith and Stosie Madi. Set deep in the Lancashire hills, Parkers Arms is called a little gem and is a true gastropub which takes pride in sourcing local produce from the very best suppliers.
The pub is famed for its pies, but with a menu that often changes twice a day you never know exactly what you’re going to get. As a result the menu is rarely listed on its website, as it fluctuates depending on what is in season and locally available.
Image: The Parkers Arms
Image: The Parkers Arms
In the past few years The Parkers Arms has slowly but steadily climbed up the rankings, first entering the list in 2017 at number 48 before going on to take home second place last year.
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Commenting on how it felt to scoop the top gong at last, owners said they were ‘so delighted proud and honoured to be no 1 in what we call the pub oscars,’ adding that the award was a massive ‘morale booster’.
Overall, the 2023 list was dominated by the south but there were a number of other northern pubs featured. Notably, these include The Pack Horse in Hayfield (no. 18) and nearby Yorkshire pubs The Angel at Hetton, Skipton (no.6) The White Swan at Fence, Burnley (no. 7), Shibden Mill Inn (no.14) and recently-closed pub The Moorcock Inn at Norland.
In total the list saw five new entrants for 2023. The Baring in London, the highest new entrant, came in at number 23 whilst on the marshy coastline of Norfolk yThe White Horse, another new entrant, was voted number 34.
Other awards announced at the ceremony on Monday night were One to Watch – which was given to The Victoria Oxshott, in Surrey. The Oarsman in Marlow was awarded Newcomer of the Year. Brook House in Fulham won best Front of House Team, and Chef of the Year went to Tom De Keyser, head chef of The Hand & Flowers in Marlow.
Top 50 Gastropubs, Publisher, Chris Lowe said: “We are thrilled to see such a strong list of contenders this year, including five new entrants! The Top 50 Gastropubs provides a space for food and drink lovers the opportunity to explore the best that the UK has to offer. We are delighted to host this year’s event at The Unruly Pig, showcasing the vast amount of talent across the UK”
The Top 50 Gastropubs 2023 list is as follows:
1. Parkers Arms, Newton-In-Bowland
2. The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge
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3. Freemasons at Wiswell, Wiswell
4. The Sportsman, Seasalter
5. The Kentish Hare, Tunbridge Wells
6. The Angel at Hetton, Hetton
7. The White Swan at Fence, Fence
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8. The Hand & Flowers, Marlow
9. The Fordwich Arms, Kent
10. The Red Lion and Sun, London
11. The Mariners, Rock
12. The Cornish Arms, Tavistock
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13. The Harwood Arms, London
14. Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax
15. The Coach, Marlow
16. The Beehive, Great Waltham
17. The Cadeleigh Arms, Tiverton
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18. The Pack Horse, Hayfield
19. Pyne Arms, Barnstaple
20. The Black Swan, Ravenstondale
21. The Moorcock Inn, Sowerby Bridge
22. The Guinea Grill, London
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23. The Baring, London
24. The Masons Arms, Knowstone
25. Canton Arms, London
26. The Rat Inn, Anick, Hexham
27. The Pipe and Glass, Beverley
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28. The Longs Arms, South Wraxall
29. The Dog at Wingham, Canterbury
30. The Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon
31. The Hardwick, Abergavenny
32. The Loch and The Tyne, Old Windsor
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33. The Bull & Last, London
34. The White Horse, Brancaster
35. The Black Bull, Sedbergh
36. The Swan, Bampton
37. The Bell Inn, Langford
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38. Scran and scallie, Edinburgh
39. The Dog & Gun Inn, Skelton
40. The Duck Inn, Stanhoe
41. The Duncombe Arms, Ashbourne
42. The Black Bear Inn, Usk – Wales
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43. Heft, High Newton
44. The Broad Chare, Newcastle
45. Woods, Dulverton
46. The Gunton Arms, Norwich
47. The French House, London
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48. The Eagle, Farringdon, London
Feature image – The Parkers Arms
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‘I will fight for a better life for all’ – Bev Craig’s speech in full as she’s named the new Mayor of Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Labour candidate Bev Craig has been named the new Mayor of Greater Manchester.
As the polls closed across the region on yesterday’s (30 July 2026) mayoral by-election, it has been announced that Bev Craig is the new Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Craig won with a combined total of more than 300,000 votes, taking into account first and second preferences, beating out Reform UK’s candidate, Sian Astley, who came in second places with just over 157,000 votes.
The final result didn’t come in until close to 11pm last night, but in the end, Craig’s win was described as being a ‘decisive’.
The new Mayor of Greater Manchester has been elected! Bev Craig will take up the role from Monday.
A full table of votes from the 10 districts and the Greater Manchester result will be available on the GM Elects website#GMElectspic.twitter.com/fERMwv7pyT
— Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr) July 31, 2026
The new Mayor has been elected after Andy Burnham was required to stand down from the role following his victory in the crucial Makerfield by-election last month, winning 24,927 votes (54.8% vote share) and a majority of 9,231.
The role of Greater Manchester Mayor also holds Police and Crime Commissioner powers, so as an elected MP, Burnham was disqualified from holding the office of Mayor.
Of course, since that Makerfield by-election win, you might recall that Andy Burnham has then gone onto become Leader of the Labour Party, and therefore, Prime Minister, so it would probably have been tricky for him to balance two major roles at the same time anyway, even if he could.
Craig’s election to Mayor also means that she will no longer serve as the Leader of Manchester City Council – with further updates to be provided on that in due course.
Bev Craig’s first speech as Mayor of Greater Manchester in full
“I never believed as a girl growing up in a council estate that one day I would have the chance to stand for the place that I love, the place in this world that I’m proud to call home, and to offer my service to make our city region better.”
“Because Greater Manchester is special.
“We talk a lot about our history. We talk about the role that we’ve played from the birth of the Industrial Revolution to the trade union movement and Peterloo. From the suffragettes through to modern inventions and splitting the atom and the invention of the modern computer. We’ve changed the world in many ways in the past, but Greater Manchester’s potential lies in its future.
“And when Westminster walked away from us, when we were struggling as a deindustrialized city region, it was the people in this place that began the journey to rebuild.
“People often ask me, what is it that I feel makes Greater Manchester so special? And it’s our people and our communities. And during this campaign, I’ve got to see that firsthand in every single corner of this city region.
“In every pride, village, town, and both our cities, I find fantastic people doing incredible things against the odds every single day. Rejecting the politics of hate, but standing with their neighbours, looking out for each other. The spirit of a place that their neighbours will give their final pound in their pocket to help their struggling friend do the right thing.
“But for too many people across our region, life is simply too hard. The generational belief that we had that if you work hard and you did the right thing, then your life would be better, and the life of your kids would be better, is something that many people just don’t feel at the minute.”
“And that is the challenge that we in politics have to face up to. And it’s why I set myself a simple test, and I make that commitment to you today, that every single decision I take as your mayor of Greater Manchester will pass the test of making your life better.
“It will put more money in your pocket, and that was one of the reasons that my first pledge was around free buses for eleven to eighteen year olds to put five hundred quid in the pockets of families and give a message to our young people that they could be anything they wanted to be and go anywhere they wanted to go.
“That everyone in our city region deserves a good quality home that they can afford in a safe neighbourhood, and that everyone has to feel the benefits and successes of growth. You have to feel it in your pocket with good jobs in every corner of our city region, and you’ve got to see it on your high streets and when you walk out your front door, restoring pride into our, our high streets and town centres.
“But it can’t just be about building the basic fundamentals of a good life. It’s creating a good life. It’s letting people make those decisions where they plan with optimism and hope for the future. Things like spending time with friends and family with enough money in your pocket to do it, to plan for your holidays, to plan for your trips, to be able to think of the life you’re creating for your kids.
“And that’s what we can do here in Greater Manchester. And the final thing I’ll say is that this is about the city region that we want to be. This is the Greater Manchester that we can be. And that has to come with the belief that we can build things that make life better.
“And I’ll say this really plainly. To those that voted for me, thank you. To the Labour support that’s in doubt, thank you. To those of you that lent me your vote, thank you. And for those of you that didn’t vote for me, I will still be your mayor because I will defend this city region with every bone in my body, and I will fight for a better life for all of us.
“So the hard work begins. I’ve done this with a promise and a plan, and my promise and commitment to you is that I will make this city region better, but I will work for everyone. I will be a greater mayor for everyone. And we have to heal.
“We have to move away from divisive politics that try and pit neighbour against neighbour, and we’ll work together.
“We’ll do it together, we’ll deliver it together, and we will build a Greater Manchester that works for all of us, that we’re all proud of, where everyone feels welcome and everyone has a chance to succeed. Thank you.”
Featured Image – GMCA
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Family-run Greater Manchester business calls out customers for punching cakes
Thomas Melia
A well-known independent Greater Manchester business has taken to social media to call out customers who were caught on CCTV punching their cakes.
Known for everything from cakes and pastries to hot baked goods and custom chocolate designs, Slattery’s in Whitefield has been serving up their gorgeous cake and chocolate creations for over 50 years, all while keeping the business family-run.
Unfortunately, the reason they’re receiving lots of attention at the minute is due to two customers resorting to violence on their pre-packaged sweet-treat products.
The social media account for this Greater Manchester chocolatier has uploaded two images which show the outcome of the fatal blows which struck two of their Victoria Sponge cakes.
Although this punch may have cost them the price of two of their delicious traybakes, later on in the post, Slattery’s issues a big thanks to “All the wonderful families who’ve visited so far this summer.”
“We know cake can be exciting, but a gentle reminder that little bakers should remain under adult supervision at all times – Thank you.”
This third-generation family-run “chocolate wonderland” has brought a smile to many locals’ and tourists’ faces alike with their wide variety of unique-shaped chocolate bars, lollies, grab bags and more.
All throughout 2021, Slattery’s were serving up their moreish Slattery’s Chocolate Lockdown Platters consisting of shortbread, brownies, fudge, pretzels, marshmallows and Oreos, helping Mancs continue to get our sugary fix even during one of the country’s toughest times.
Just look at them – they do the lord’s work:
Slattery’s chocolate shop and bakery has called out customers on social media for punching their pre-packaged cakes / Credit: The Manc Group
As well as attracting visitors with its grand three-storey bakery and chocolate shop, Slattery’s also has its very own restaurant, Mason’s Dining Room, where people flock to attempt the ‘Chocolate Challenge’.
To win, two chocoholics must team up to finish an American-style chocolate fudge cake with chocolate ice cream, a portion of fresh cream and two chocolate pots filled with liquid chocolate sauce – oh and two delicious hot chocolate drinks too.
Any sweet tooth successor will bag themselves one of Slattery’s chocolate medals and a box of handmade chocolates too – in case you needed chocolate anymore.
Lastly, anyone after supporting this Greater Manchester sweet-treat provider can find the chocolatier and cake makers on 197 Bury New Road in Whitefield or via Slattery’s official website HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
24th January 2023 
