The race to be named Britain’s top pub has been narrowed down to just four ‘incredible’ watering holes – and one of them was recently salvaged from near-complete ruin.
Pint chiefs from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) are looking to crown their Pub of the Year for 2025, one of the most prestigious and highly-sought after achievements a bar can win.
There had initially been 16 pubs in the race as recently as August, but the ‘fantastic’ final four have clawed down all the other competition and now face one more shootout against each other for the big boozy prize.
The taverns, from near the idyllic rural Cotswolds in England to Scotland’s blustery east coast, have beaten out thousands of nominations in their bid to take over the accolade from last year’s winner, The Bailey Head in Oswestry.
Perhaps the most impressive pub on the list is the Blackfriars Tavern in Great Yarmouth, which was on the brink of total collapse when it was purchased during the first COVID lockdown.
In the five years since, the Victorian-era watering hole has refocused its efforts on East Anglian-produced cask, as well as ciders and perries – with many award-winning drinks on sale from the on-site brewery.
Nestled just minutes from the River Yare, the pub between 13th century town walls and is possibly the most unlikely to be at the final stages of the award – given where it has come from.
However, it did win the most recent Cider and Perry Pub of the Year, and undoubtedly has its sights set firmly on claiming yet further success.
The Blackfriars Tavern was on the brink of collapse when it was purchased during lockdown and has since been transformed into one of Britain’s best pubs
The Pelican Inn has been featured in the Good Beer Guide for more than a decade and is thought to have been built using wooden beams from Francis Drake’s Golden Hind ship
Another pub hoping to clinch the title is the Pelican Inn in Gloucester, which has been featured in the Good Beer Guide for more than a decade.
The Grade II listed pub is a favourite among cyclists, cathedral visitors and rugby fans, and is rumoured to have been built using wooden beams from explorer Francis Drake’s Golden Hind ship – originally named Pelican.
The third pub – and perhaps the favourite – is the two-time champion from the West Midlands, The Tamworth Tap.
The part-Tudor building, which won the national award in 2022 and 2023, hosts local events allowing visitors stunning views of Tamworth Castle, to quirkier ones such as bat-watching evenings and ‘paint and sip’ sessions.
And finally, the only finalist north of the border is the Volunteer Arms – known as Staggs to locals – in Musselburgh, a seaside city just five miles from Edinburgh.
The watering hole, which has been run by the same family since 1858, welcomes its customers with a cosy bar and snug which are complimented by wooden floors, panelling and mirrors from now-defunct local breweries.
The pub even pipped the CAMRA award in 1998 and last reached the final four in 2018, with its Victorian era gantry of particular interest.
Judges will crown the winner at the start of 2026 after taking into account each tavern’s atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, customer mix and – crucially – its beers.
Perhaps the favourite is the two-time champion from the West Midlands, The Tamworth Tap, which hosts quirky events such as bat-watching evenings and ‘paint and sip’ sessions
The Tamworth Tap has an extensive selection of bottled beer, ale and cider for its punters
The Scottish finalist is the Volunteer Arms – known as Staggs to locals – in Musselburgh, which has been run by the same family since 1858
Andrea Briers, CAMRA’s Pub of the Year coordinator said she was ‘delighted’ to announce the finalists, but warned of the potential risks for pubs Rachel Reeves could inflict on pubs at this year’s Budget.
Ms Briers said: ‘It is always a hard-fought and close competition with judges having an incredibly difficult job whittling them down to just four. They are shining examples of what makes our pubs so incredibly special, vital to our communities and providing a wonderful welcome to all.
‘I am very excited to see the outcome of the final round of judging and crowning our winner. Every year we see pubs facing new pressures and to continue to thrive in the face of rising costs and other issues is humbling to see.
‘We are 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.’
Last month, it was revealed more than 2,000 pubs may be forced to close next year without urgent Government intervention to cut staggering business rates and offer boozers some essential relief.
In a stark warning to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) warned England could lose around six pubs a day, putting at least 12,000 jobs at risk.
Labour has since launched a bid to revive the ailing hospitality industry, with ministers pushing plans to allow increased opening hours – after lockdown, spiralling costs and crippling tax raids took their toll on the once-thriving British night life.
The plans are extended to clubs, raising concerns among health experts and organisations of more drink-related aggression, violence against women and deaths from alcohol.
But Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UK Hospitality, said a ‘new and improved licensing system that is fit for the 21st century will be a huge boost to the nation’s pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels’.
