The UK’s 16 best pubs revealed in top awards – including boozer inside a FLORIST and one with a ‘castle’ beer garden

THE UK’s 16 best pubs have been revealed – and the list includes a quirky boozer inside a florist and another boasting spectacular castle views. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has named the regional winners in its prestigious Pub of the Year 2026 competition. The Cockpit in Greater London, a micropub that famously has a florist out the front Credit: CAMRA The Tamworth Tap in Staffordshire is overlooked by Tamworth Castle Credit: Paul Tonge The awards aim to celebrate the best boozers in the UK, with the haunts judged on atmosphere, décor and quality cask beer, real cider and perry. Now 16 pubs have been crowned the best in their region. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! They 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 will be announced in October with the winner revealed in January 2027. Among the finalists is The Cockpit in Chislehurst, Greater London, a micropub that famously has a florist out the front. The unusual venue opened in 2020 in the former home of Roses Florist and has retained its flowery connection. Meanwhile, the Tamworth Tap in Staffordshire sits in the shadow of Tamworth Castle. Its historic courtyard beer garden offers drinkers striking views of the Norman landmark’s towers, earning it a reputation as one of the most eye-catching places in Britain to enjoy a pint. Most read in Money The pub, housed in a 16th-century building, is no stranger to recognition, having previously scooped CAMRA’s top national award. Elsewhere, the Railway Arms in Saffron Walden, Essex, is a Victorian street-corner local saved from development by its community. More than 500 shareholders own the pub after locals launched a fundraising campaign and carried out much of its restoration themselves. Another community success story is Ye Olde Cross in Old Ryton Village, Tyne and Wear. Residents stepped in after the pub shut in 2018, raising the money needed to bring it back to life the following year. The Countryman’s Inn in Hunton, North Yorkshire, was also rescued by villagers after facing closure. And the Northumberland Arms in Marple Bridge, affectionately known as “The Thumb”, reopened as a community-owned pub in 2017. What are the UK’s 16 best pubs? The regional winners going through to the next stage are: East Anglia: Railway Arms, Saffron Walden East Central: Malt Shovel Tavern, Northampton East Midlands: Railway Inn, Ketton Greater London: Cockpit, Chislehurst Merseyside and Cheshire: Turks Head, St Helens North East: Olde Cross, Old Ryton Village North West: Northumberland Arms, Marple Bridge Northern Ireland: Dog and Duck Inn, Lisbellaw Scotland: Steam Packet Inn, Isle of Whithorn South Central: Bell, Waltham St Lawrence South East: Nelson Arms, Tonbridge South West: Fallen Tree, Clevedon Wales: Mold Alehouse, Mold West Central: Alma Inn, Linton West Midlands: Tamworth Tap, Tamworth Yorkshire: Countryman’s Inn, Hunton The Malt Shovel Tavern in Northampton is known for its collection of brewery memorabilia, open fires and changing selection of real ales. In Rutland, the Grade II-listed Railway Inn is a traditional village pub complete with wooden furniture, a fireplace and tankards hanging above the bar. The Turks Head in St Helens, Merseyside, is a Victorian corner pub dating back to the 1870s, while Northern Ireland’s Dog and Duck Inn is home to the Glenwinny Distillery. Scotland’s Steam Packet Inn sits on the quayside at the Isle of Whithorn and has its own microbrewery, Five Kingdoms Brewery. Drinkers after a slice of history can head to The Bell in Waltham St Lawrence, Berkshire, a half-timbered pub dating back to the 14th century. Its historic interior includes original Jacobean panelling and a capped well in one of its dining rooms. The Nelson Arms in Tonbridge, known locally as “The Nelly“, has a nautical theme, with areas named the Trafalgar Snug and Nelson Saloon. Meanwhile, Welsh finalist Mold Alehouse is a small, conversation-friendly micropub housed in a Grade II-listed building. The final 16 will now be assessed during the competition’s “super-regional” stage. Four finalists are due to be announced in October, before the overall CAMRA National Pub of the Year is crowned in January 2027. Andrea Briers, CAMRA’s Pub of the Year competition co-ordinator, said: “We have a formidable top 16 this year, with both familiar faces and some first-time winners in the mix. “Behind each one is a deserving and hard-working team, running an amazing pub for their local community and serving brilliant cask beer. “Please make the most of this bank holiday weekend by showing your support for the UK’s amazing pubs. “You never know, you might pick one that ends up a winner next year.” ‘Pubs are struggling’ The Northumberland Arms is known as ‘The Thumb’ to locals Credit: CAMRA The Railway Inn Grade II traditional village local in the shadow of the impressive church Credit: CAMRA The awards come as CAMRA warns that many publicans are struggling with the cost of running their businesses. The campaign group is urging the Government to make changes to VAT and draught beer duty, as well as tackle soaring energy bills. It also wants the UK and devolved governments to introduce a fairer business-rates system to help pubs compete with cheap supermarket alcohol. CAMRA chairman Ash Corbett-Collins said: “CAMRA’s Pub of the Year competition highlights the very best that the UK has to offer, but unfortunately, it’s much more common that licensees are struggling with day-to-day trading. “The new Prime Minister and Chancellor have the power to change that. “With the next UK Budget coming up, they could take action on business rates, draught beer duty and VAT, to deliver a Budget for beer drinkers and publicans.” The Fallen Tree is in Clevedon, a historic Victorian seaside town in North Somerset Credit: CAMRA Olde Cross is in an attractive Edwardian half-timbered local in lovely setting by the village green Credit: CAMRA Comment now