The best pub in the UK is revealed by the Campaign for Real Ale

The Tamworth Tap in Tamworth, has been named as the best in the country by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for the second year in a row, winning the National Pub of the Year 2023 award. 

CAMRA’s prestigious National Pub of the Year title is the highest honour the Campaign can bestow upon a pub. Running since 1988, the annual competition seeks to find the very best pub in the UK, and the illustrious award helps to showcase quality pubs around the nation that are worth seeking out and visiting. 

The Tamworth Tap – which also scooped the award in 2022 – is an impressive brewpub located in a 16th century shop front, falling within the shadow of Tamworth’s historic Norman castle. It enthralled judges to become just the second pub ever to win the prize two consecutive years in a row, following the Kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, who achieved the feat in 2008 and 2009. 

The pub is an elegant building, home to Tamworth Brewing Company and its tap. The cosy upstairs rooms have Tudor features, the historic courtyard beer terrace to the rear offers striking views of Tamworth Castle, and there is café-style seating to the front. Eight hand pulls usually feature one Tamworth ale, the rest from near and far. Various snacks are offered, plus a wide range of ciders, gins, wines and bottled beers. A ‘CAMRA corner’ at the bottom of the stairs includes a rare, complete set of Good Beer Guides.

Themed events regularly take place in this bustling brewpub, including ‘paint and sip’ sessions, film screenings and its newly introduced ‘Barrel of Laughs’ comedy nights. The courtyard features regular live music with local performers and its weekly ‘Sunday Session’. It also hosts events such as bat watch evenings, beer tasting sessions, an annual Wassailing ceremony and supports a wide range of community initiatives across the town. The in-house ‘Tap Times’ lists local happenings and forthcoming events. 

The judges described the pub as: “An excellent example of a pub at the centre of its community that supports a wide variety of diverse local activity groups, with knowledgeable, helpful staff to help you find a real ale or cider to suit your taste. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and look forward to returning at some time in the future.” 

On receiving the news, George and Louise Greenaway said: “Words really can’t express how we feel right now. It took a while for the magnitude of the occasion to sink in when we won last year; to have retained it is beyond incredible! We vowed to continue to evolve, with the aim of providing the ultimate drinking experience to everyone who walks through our door.

“We aren’t just a pub; we are a hub of the community, and we aim to bring people together. That and the perfect pint is what it’s all about. Thank you to all at CAMRA, from branch to national level, for recognising what The Tap stands for. A huge thank you also to ‘Team Tap’ for delivering our vision with such passion, commitment and enthusiasm – we share this recognition with you. And, to our beloved Tappers, we have such a special place because of you. Thank you for supporting us in all we do.”

CAMRA Awards Director Laura Emson said: “The Tamworth Tap should be incredibly proud of this feat, to be named the best pub in the UK two times on the trot is a remarkable achievement. The pub encapsulates everything that CAMRA aims to promote and protect, and each member of the team deserves the recognition twice over!

“A pub doesn’t have to be a national award winner to be a vital part of a local community and following a tough few years for the industry, our support is needed more than ever.” 

John Rowling, Pubs Officer Lichfield, Sutton & Tamworth Branch, said: “What a sensational achievement! Just twelve months ago we were toasting the Tamworth Tap being crowned CAMRA National Pub of the Year for 2022. At the time, the owners, staff and customers were absolutely overjoyed and brimming with pride at the Tap’s success. Now here we are again with the Tamworth Tap winning CAMRA National Pub of the Year for a second time in consecutive years.

“The success has been built on continuous hard work, dedication and attention to detail to make the Tap a splendid community asset. Congratulations to George, Louise and the team for another tremendous accolade.”

Pubs in the competition are selected by CAMRA volunteers and judged on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, community focus and the quality of the beer. Runners-up in the competition were the Nelson Arms, Tonbridge; Trafalgar Hotel, Ramsey, Isle of Man; and The Beer Engine, Skipton. 

The Tamworth Tap will be presented with an award for its achievement at an event open to the press on 12 January 2023 from 12.30pm with the presentation taking place around 1pm.