The UK’s top pubs revealed

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has named the 16 regional and national winners in its recent Pub of the Year 2025 competition.

The shortlisted pubs, which beat thousands of entries to be crowned the best in their area will now battle it out for the chance to be named CAMRA’s overall Pub of the Year.

The final four pubs in the running for the overall title are set to be announced in October with the overall winner being revealed in January 2026.

The 16 pubs have been recognised as “the best of the best in the UK” and, according to the association, their shortlisting for the competition is “testament to their quality and commitment to their communities”.

The top 16 pubs named by CAMRA, according to each region are as follows:

East Anglia
Blackfriars Tavern, Great Yarmouth

East Central
Orange Tree, Baldock

East Midlands
Burnt Pig, Ilkeston

Greater London
Hope, Carshalton

Merseyside and Chesire
Cricketers, St Helens

North East
Station House, Durham

North West
Cumberland Inn, Alston

Northern Ireland
Dog and Duck Inn, Lisbellaw

Scotland
Volunteer Arms (Staggs), Musselburgh

South Central
Bell Inn, Aldworth

South East
Royston, Broadstairs

South West
Hole in the Wall, Bodmin

Wales
Rhos yr Hafod Inn, Llanon

West Central
Pelican Inn, Gloucester

West Midlands
Tamworth Tap, Tamworth

Yorkshire
Beer Engine, Skipton

This year’s contest comes as many pubs across the UK are facing many challenges ranging from high costs, heavy tax burdens and crippling business rates. db recently reported on how more than 200 UK pubs have shut in the past six months with the British Beer and Pub Association CEO Emma McClarkin urging the government to react quickly in response to the “heartbreaking” pattern of closures, with the South East of England hardest hit.

CAMRA has made pains to highlight that to survive “pubs need sector specific support, including the reform of the business rates system, an extension of the draught beer and cider duty and a reduction in Employer National Insurance to help with staffing costs”.

Speaking about the top 16 pubs that have made the finals, CAMRA’s Pub of the Year co-ordinator Andrea Briers said: “These pubs are shining examples of what makes the Great British pub so special, from perfectly kept pints to a genuine welcome for all.”

Briers pointed out that “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.”

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