CAMRA has revealed the Volunteer Arms, known as Staggs, in Musselburgh as one of the four best pubs in the UK. The race to take home the crown for the National Pub of the Year 2025 is now on.
The competition to be CAMRA’s cream of the crop in the prestigious National Pub of the Year 2025 competition is hotting up and Staggs in Musselburgh, a previous title holder, has once again reached the final stages.
The Scottish pub has already won the title before in 1998 and was a worthy runner-up in 2018.
Staggs is a superb pub run by the same family since 1858 with a traditional bar and snug, wooden floors, wood panelling and mirrors from now closed local breweries. The pub’s interior is of historic interest with an attractive Victorian era gantry topped with old spirit cask barrels. It has a range of regularly changing cask beers and has recently featured in the hit Netflix series Department Q.
After months of rigorous judging, just four pubs remain in the competition. They will now battle it out to claim the National Pub of the Year title, the Campaign’s biggest award and one of the highest accolades a UK pub can win.
All the super regional finalists have proved to be exceptional. The final round of judging is now underway with the winner set to be revealed at the start of 2026.
Beating thousands of entries and showcasing their commitment to quality and their communities, the pubs have been judged on their atmosphere, décor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression and, most importantly, quality cask beer, real cider and perry.
While this is fantastic news, CAMRA is warning pubs need specific support as they continue to face their toughest year yet. The consumer group is calling on the Scottish Government to radically reform the unfair business rates system which unfairly penalises pubs, and wants the UK Government to take action on VAT, energy bills, employer national insurance costs and duty served on beer and cider served in pubs.
Speaking from Staggs, Katie McKenzie, a co-owner of the pub, said:
“Nigel, Hayley and I are absolutely delighted to be in the final four of CAMRA’s Pub of the Year competition. It is a testament to our hard-working staff, the breweries who supply us with fantastic beer and the community who drink and socialise with us. Staggs is a special place to many and we are grateful to everyone who plays a part in making us a community and more than just a pub.”
Stuart McMahon, Director of CAMRA Scotland, said:
“Staggs is a fantastic historic pub tucked away in a quiet corner of Musselburgh and has been run by the same family for almost 170 years. Nigel Finlay, owner, assisted by his two daughters, is passionate about the quality of the cask beers they serve and customers are always guaranteed a warm welcome, enjoying their beers whilst viewing the many historic mirrors and previous CAMRA awards that are on display."
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Notes to editors
Download photos of the four finalists and CAMRA spokespeople here.
Joining Staggs in the four final pubs are:
Blackfriars Tavern, Great Yarmouth: Awarded CAMRA’s UK Cider and Perry Pub of the Year just weeks ago, this Victorian corner pub, next to the 13th century town walls, has made its mark as a must visit destination. Described as a real gem, the pub focusses on East Anglian produced cask, plus real ciders and perries, with its bar regularly showcasing CAMRA award winning brews and even beers from the on-site brewery.
Pelican Inn, Gloucester: Dating back to 1679, this Grade-II listed, family run traditional ale house is popular with cyclists, cathedral visitors and local Gloucester rugby fans. With up to ten cask beers, twelve ciders and six craft kegs on at all times, plus a collection of rarer beer styles in can, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The multi-award-winning pub has featured in the Good Beer Guide for more than a decade.
Tamworth Tap, Tamworth: Twice winner of the National Pub of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, the Tudor building and historic courtyard beer terrace offers striking views of Tamworth’s Norman Castle. Home to Tamworth Brewing Company and its tap, it features eight handpulls, with cask from near and far, along with a wide range of ciders, gins, wines and bottled beers. The ‘CAMRA corner’ at the bottom of the stairs is always popular, along with its display of a complete set of Good Beer Guides.
All the national and regional Pub of the Year winners can be found here.
The pubs in the competition are selected by CAMRA volunteers and judged on their atmosphere, décor, welcome, service, value, customer mix and most importantly quality of beer.
The overall winner will be announced in January 2026.
The four finalists will be presented with their awards at local events over the coming weeks.
