Countryman's Inn, Hunton
CAMRA reveals the runners and riders for Pub of the Year 2026
The 2026 Pub of the Year competition is hotting up, with CAMRA’s England regions and overall Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland winners crowned ahead of a busy Bank Holiday weekend for pubs.
All 16 will now go forward to the next round of judging.
Politicians are now returning from their summer break, with big decisions affecting publicans, brewers and beer drinkers to be made ahead of the UK Budget, now due at the end of October.
Ahead of that, CAMRA is asking the UK Government to make changes to tax arrangements for pubs and brewers, including VAT, draught beer duty and action on sky high energy bills.
The Campaign is also calling on the UK and devolved governments to urgently commit to a new, fairer system of business rates to help pubs compete with cheap supermarket alcohol, on top of the additional year of rates relief announced by the new Prime Minister for pubs in England last month.
The top 16 pubs 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 pubs now advance to the ‘super-regional’ stage of the competition, with a ‘final four’ announced in October, ahead of the reveal of the overall National Pub of the Year in January 2027.
The final stages of the award are supported by Avani Solutions, CAMRA’s Beer Quality Partner, and ICR Touch, CAMRA’s Technology Partner.
Andrea Briers, Pub of the Year competition Coordinator, 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.”
Ash Corbett-Collins, CAMRA Chairman, 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.”
ENDS
Find photos of the top 16 pubs and CAMRA spokespeople here.
Please contact press@camra.org.uk for questions and bespoke comments.
More information on each of the top 16:
East Anglia: Railway Arms, Saffron Walden
A lovingly restored Victorian street-corner pub which was saved by its local community in 2020, the Railway Arms combines traditional character with a lively, welcoming atmosphere. The pub champions independent breweries and cider makers, with up to six changing cask beers on tap and Wriggers’ Cider produced on site.
East Central: Malt Shovel Tavern, Northampton
This popular pub, opposite the Carlsberg brewery, serves up to eight cask beers, from local and regional microbreweries, three real ciders, and Belgian draught and bottled beers. The exterior consists of a unique Northampton Brewery Company neon-lit star, while the inside features a great array of breweriana.
East Midlands: Railway Inn, Ketton
A village gem that serves great cask beer and good wine in a welcoming, friendly atmosphere. The Grade II-listed building is several hundred years old, with much character and more than a dash of charm. It's also been presented with a plethora of CAMRA awards.
Greater London: Cockpit, Chislehurst
This easy going and chatty pub is Chislehurst's first micropub and offers a choice of cask beers from small breweries from all over the country, served from a cold room behind the small bar. The premises are shared with a florist but it's still a spacious pub with plenty of seating inside, plus further high tables and bench seating by the small bar at the rear.
Merseyside and Cheshire: Turks Head, St. Helens
An attractive Tudor-style pub dating back to the 1870s near the town centre, the Turks Head has previously been included in our top 16 pubs, in 2024. The friendly and welcoming pub offers a rotating line-up of 14 handpulls, a selection of real ciders and contains a large whisky and gin bar. An extensive variety of craft and continental beers can also be found in the upstairs Tower Lounge room, which hosts live music and events for local community groups.
North East: Olde Cross, Old Ryton Village
This community-owned pub opened in 2019 just 18 months before community saw it close its doors. It's an attractive Edwardian half-timbered local in a beautiful setting by the village green, and is very much a centre for the local community. It hosts events and local activities, such as street food vendors on the weekends, as well as pop-up supper club events.
North West: Northumberland Arms, Marple Bridge
Saved from permanent closure in 2017, following a successful campaign by the local community, the pub has continued to flourish. Now run by a group of enthusiastic local people who have worked hard to restore this cosy, welcoming pub to its former glory, a varied range of well-kept beers are always available. Becoming the beating heart of its community, the pub, locally referred to as “The Thumb,” is a hub for events and activities.
Northern Ireland: Dog & Duck Inn, Lisbellaw
A family run, dog-friendly country pub, the Dog & Duck Inn is noted for its welcoming and cosy atmosphere. It specialises in independent beers, ciders and spirits with 13 guest spots, including four traditional cask beer pumps serving a mixture of cask and real ciders. The pub is also home to the Glenwinny Micro Distillery, which produces small batch rum, brandy and whiskey.
Scotland: Steam Packet Inn, Isle of Whithorn
This idyllic establishment overlooking the scenic harbour and surrounding area offers great food, good beer and quality accommodation. Find up to seven beers from the in-house brewery Five Kingdoms and one guest beer at the public bar with stone walls and a multi-fuel stove. They also serve great local produce from their fantastic kitchen team.
South Central: Bell, Waltham St Lawrence
A classic half-timbered 14th-century pub which doubles as the village local and a quality restaurant – producing exceptionally good food from fresh, seasonal ingredients. They do a great job promoting cask beers from independent breweries and offer up to eight ciders and perries too. Find log fires in the winter, a good-sized beer garden in the summer and folk music sessions on the first Thursday of each month
South East: Nelson Arms, Tonbridge
A beautifully refurbished side street local, that serves a changing selection of up to nine cask and keg beers and ciders from national and local indie breweries. The pub's spacious and comfortable interior displays a nautical theme, with decorations including a ship's wheel, barometer and a painting of Lord Nelson, along with attractive breweriana.
South West: Fallen Tree, Clevedon
This pub pours straight from the ten casks located in the wooden stillage behind the bar. The first micropub in North Somerset delivers quality, local beer and frequently quality conversation. The Fallen Tree also offers real cider, local gins, wines, prosecco and soft drinks as well. Additional seating is available on the pavement outside.
Wales: Mold Alehouse, Mold
The ethos of this award-winning pub is based on the sound principles of good beer and conversation. The beers include four cask offerings, always including a dark beer, five KeyKeg lines and four ciders. It's centrally situated in a Grade II-listed building opposite Daniel Owen Square.
West Central: Alma Inn, Linton
This multi award-winnning pub of outstanding calibre features a convivial front bar, with a wood-burner, which nicely contrasts with the rear pool room and a separate wood-panelled dining room. Find hearty, freshly prepared food, and in July the Alma Inn hosts the Linton Music Festival in their gardens, along with a beer festival.
West Midlands: Tamworth Tap, Tamworth
The first pub to win our National Pub of the Year three times, 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 beer from near and far, alongside a wide range of ciders, gins, wines and bottled beers.
Yorkshire: Countryman's Inn, Hunton
The Countryman's Inn is a welcoming community-owned free house, which serves Yorkshire beers, with at least one from Pennine Brewery. Enjoy a roaring stove in the winter, the great beer garden in the summer, bi-weekly coffee mornings and charity quizzes.
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