The National Pub of the Year is awarded annually by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). Established in 1988, the competition highlights pubs around the UK that are worth seeking out. Each local CAMRA branch nominates one pub in their area, which then go through to a regional competition, with four pubs going on to the national final.
Pubs are evaluated on: Quality of the real ales served Value for money Atmosphere Interior decoration Customer service and welcome
Winners Until 1998 the date of the award was for the year of the announcement of the winner. From 1998 onwards the date of the award is the year that the award was judged and it is awarded at the start of the following year. As a result the Volunteer Arms, Musselburgh was announced as the 1998 winner in April 1998 and the Fat Cat, Norwich was announced as the 1998 winner at the start of 1999.
2025: The Tamworth Tap, Tamworth, Staffordshire (third win) 2024: The Bailey Head, Oswestry 2023: The Tamworth Tap, Tamworth, Staffordshire (second win) 2022: The Tamworth Tap, Tamworth, Staffordshire 2021: Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2020: Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2019: The Bell Inn, Aldworth, Berkshire (second win) 2018: Wonston Arms, Wonston, Hampshire 2017: Cricketers Arms, St Helens, Merseyside 2016: George & Dragon, Hudswell, North Yorkshire 2015: Sandford Park Alehouse, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 2014: The Salutation Inn, Ham, Gloucestershire 2013: The Swan with Two Necks, Pendleton, Lancashire 2012: The Baum, Rochdale, Greater Manchester 2011: The Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, Wrexham 2010: The Harp, Charing Cross, London 2009: The Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (second win) 2008: The Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 2007: Old Spot Inn, Hill Road, Dursley, Gloucestershire 2006: Tom Cobley Tavern, Spreyton, Devon 2005: The Swan, Little Totham, Essex (second win) 2004: The Fat Cat, Norwich, Norfolk (second win) 2003: The Crown & Thistle, Gravesend, Kent 2002: The Swan, Little Totham, Essex 2001: The Nursery Inn, Heaton Norris, Greater Manchester 2000: Blisland Inn, Blisland, Cornwall 1999: The Rising Sun, Tipton, West Midlands 1998: The Fat Cat, Norwich, Norfolk 1998: The Volunteer Arms, (Staggs Bar), Musselburgh, East Lothian 1997: The Sair Inn, Linthwaite, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire 1996: Halfway House, Pitney, Somerset 1995: Coalbrookdale Inn, Coalbrookdale, Shropshire 1994: Beamish Mary Inn, No Place, between Stanley and Beamish, Co Durham 1993: Three Kings, Hanley Castle, Worcestershire & The Fishermans Tavern, Broughty Ferry, Angus 1992: (No Result) 1991: Great Western, Wolverhampton, West Midlands 1990: The Bell Inn, Aldworth, Berkshire 1989: Cap & Feathers, Tillingham, Essex 1988: The Boars Head, Kinmuck, Aberdeenshire
Final Four winners Each year, a super-regional round whittles down the Regional Winners to a Final 4 Round
2025 +2025 Final FourBlackfriars Tavern, Great YarmouthPelican Inn, GloucesterTamworth Tap, TamworthVolunteer Arms (Staggs)
2024 +2024 Final FourBlack Horse, PrestonLittle Green Dragon, Winchmore HillThree B’s, BridlingtonBailey Head, Oswestry
2023 +2023 Final FourBeer Engine, SkiptonTrafalgar Hotel, Ramsey, Isle of MannNelson Arms, TonbridgeTamworth Tap, Tamworth
Regional winners
2024 +RegionPub NameLocationCentral SouthernBell Inn, AldworthAldworthEast AngliaBlackfriars Tavern, Great Yarmouth Great YarmouthEast MidlandsHorse and Jockey, Stapleford Stapleford, NottinghamshireGreater LondonLittle Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill Winchmore HillGreater ManchesterNorthumberland Arms, Marple Bridge Marple BridgeKentNelson Arms, Tonbridge TonbridgeMerseyside/Cheshire/North WalesTurks Head, St Helens St Helens, MerseysideNorth EastGrey Horse, Consett ConsettScotlandHillend Tavern, Dalgety Bay Dalgety BayNorthern IrelandDog and Duck, Lisbellaw LisbellawWalesCresselly Arms, Cresswell Quay Cresswell QuaySouth WestCrossways Inn, West Huntspill West HuntspillSurrey/SussexBrickmakers Alehouse, Bexhill on Sea Bexhill-on-SeaWessexWoodman Inn, Bridport BridportWest MidlandsBailey Head, Oswestry OswestryWest PenninesBlack Horse, Preston Preston, LancashireYorkshireThree B’s, Bridlington Bridlington
2022 RegionPub NameLocationCentral SouthernBellWaltham St Lawrence, BerkshireEast AngliaKing's HeadNorwich, NorfolkEast MidlandsHorse & JockeyStapleford, NottinghamshireGreater LondonHop InnHornchurch, LondonGreater ManchesterReal CraftyWigan, ManchesterKentLarkins AlehouseCranbook, KentMerseyside/Cheshire/North WalesMagazine HotelNew Brighton, Wallasey, MerseysideNorth EastStation HouseDurham, NorthumberlandScotland/Northern IrelandCommercial InnDunfermline, FifeWalesMold Ale HouseMoldSouth WestPelican InnGloucesterSurrey/SussexHornet AlehouseChichesterWessexOlaf's TunSouthampton, HampshireWest MidlandsTamworth TapTamworth, StaffordshireWest PenninesFifteens at St AnnesSt AnnesYorkshireHeaven & AleBarnsley
2017 RegionPub NameLocationCentral SouthernThe Cross KeyThame, OxfordshireEast AngliaThe Stanford ArmsLowestoft, SuffolkEast MidlandsOld Oak InnHorsley Woodhouse, DerbyshireGreater LondonThe HopeCarshalton, LondonGreater Manchester The BaumRochdale, ManchesterKentThe Rifle VolunteersMaidstone, KentMerseyside/Cheshire/North WalesThe Cricketer's ArmsSt Helens, MerseysideNorth EastThe SteamboatSouth Shields, South TynesideScotland/Northern Ireland Staggs BarMusselburgh, East LothianWalesArvon Ale HouseLlandrindod Wells, PowysSouth WestThe SalutationHam, GloucestershireSurrey/SussexBrooksteed AlehouseWorthing, West SussexWessexThe Bottle InnMarshwood, DorsetWest MidlandsThe Earl Grey InnLeek, StaffordshireWest PenninesThe Swan with two necksPendleton, LancashireYorkshireGeorge and DragonHudswell, North Yorkshire
2011 RegionPub NameLocationCentral SouthernRadnor ArmsColeshill, OxfordshireEast AngliaEngineers ArmsHenlow, BedfordshireEast MidlandsCrownBeeston, NottinghamshireGreater LondonSouthampton ArmsHighgate Road, LondonGreater ManchesterMagnetStockportKentFlower PotMaidstoneMerseyside/Cheshire/North WalesBridge End InnRuabon, Wrexham County BoroughNorth EastBoathouse InnWylam, NorthumberlandScotland/Northern IrelandFox and HoundsHouston, RenfrewshireSouth/Mid WalesAncient BritonPen-y-cae, PowysSouth WestThe FrontFalmouth, CornwallSurrey/SussexEvening StarBrightonWessexNog InnWincantonWest MidlandsBeacon HotelSedgley, West MidlandsWest PenninesSwan with Two NecksPendleton, LancashireYorkshireJemmy Hirst at the Rose & CrownRawcliffe, East Riding of Yorkshire
2010 RegionPub NameLocationScotland and Northern IrelandAlbert TavernFreuchie, FifeNorth WestTapsLytham, LancashireNorth EastSurtees ArmsFerryhill, County DurhamGreater ManchesterKnott BarManchesterMerseyside, Cheshire and North WalesBrewery TapChesterYorkshireFerry BoatThorganby, North YorkshireEast MidlandsThe CrownBeeston, NottinghamshireWest MidlandsBeacon HotelSedgley, West MidlandsEast AngliaDoveBury St Edmunds, SuffolkKentFlower PotMaidstoneGreater LondonThe HarpCharing CrossSurrey and SussexRoyal OakFriday Street, near Rusper, West SussexSouth WestSalutationHam, near Berkeley, GloucestershireSouth and Mid WalesShip and CastleAberystwythWessex and Channel IslandsGuide DogBevois Valley, Southampton, HampshireCentral SouthernThe BellAldworth, Berkshire
2009
RegionPub NameLocationScotland and Northern IrelandAlbert TavernFreuchie, FifeWest PenninesTapsLytham, LancashireNorth EastBoathouse InnWylam, NorthumberlandGreater ManchesterCrown HotelWorthingtonMerseyside, Cheshire and North WalesGolden Lion InnLlangynhafal, DenbighshireYorkshireKelham Island TavernSheffield, South YorkshireEast MidlandsOld Oak InnHorsley Woodhouse, DerbyshireWest MidlandsCock HotelWellington, ShropshireEast AngliaWheatsheafWrittle, EssexKentBullHorton KirbyGreater LondonBricklayer’s ArmsPutneySurrey and SussexRoyal OakFriday Street, near Rusper, West SussexSouth WestOld SpotDursley, GloucestershireSouth and Mid WalesSevern ArmsPenybontWessex and Channel IslandsPrince of WalesFarnborough, HampshireCentral SouthernRoyal Oak InnWantage, Oxfordshire
2008
RegionPub NameLocationScotland and Northern IrelandMarine HotelStonehaven, GrampianWest PenninesManor ArmsBroughton-in-Furness, CumbriaNorth EastKings ArmsDeptford, Sunderland, Tyne and WearGreater ManchesterCrownStockportMerseyside, Cheshire and North WalesBlue BellHalkyn, FlintshireYorkshireKelham Island TavernSheffield, South YorkshireEast MidlandsArkwright ArmsSutton cum Duckmanton, DerbyshireWest MidlandsBeacon HotelSedgleyEast AngliaChequersLittle Gransden, CambridgeshireKentButchers ArmsHerneLondonTrafalgarSouth WimbledonSurrey and SussexRoyal OakFriday Street, near Rusper, West SussexSouth WestTom Cobley TavernSpreyton, DevonSouth and Mid WalesTafarn John y GwasDrefech-Felindre, West WalesWessex and Channel IslandsRed Lion InnKilmington, WiltshireCentral SouthernRoyal Oak InnWantage, Oxfordshire
2007 Region 'What's Brewing' - Newspaper of CAMRA, February 2008 IssuePub NameLocationScotland/N.I.Blue Peter HotelKirkcolm, Dumfries & GallowayNorth WestBridge Bier HuisBurnley, LancashireNorth EastKings ArmsDeptford, Sunderland, Tyne and WearGreater ManchesterThe New OxfordSalfordMerseyside/North WalesTurks HeadSt. HelensYorkshireKelham Island TavernSheffield, South YorkshireEast MidlandsThorold ArmsHarmston, LincolnshireWest MidlandsThe BellPensax, WorcestershireEast AngliaLand of Liberty, Peace and PlentyHeronsgate, HertfordshireKentShip CenturionWhitstableLondonBricklayer’s ArmsPutneySurrey/SussexWhite HorseMaplehurst, West SussexSouth WestOld Spot InnDursley, GloucestershireSouth WalesBorough ArmsNeath, GlamorganWessexPlough InnLittle London, HampshireCentral SouthernRose and CrownHawridge, Buckinghamshire
2005 RegionPub NameLocationScotland/N.I.Halfway HouseEdinburghNorth WestTaps, Lytham St Anne's, LancashireNorth EastRobin HoodJarrow, Tyne and WearGreater ManchesterMusketeerLeighMerseyside/North WalesBhurtpore InnAston, CheshireYorkshireCrown InnManfield, North YorkshireEast MidlandsOld Coach HouseSouthwell, NottinghamshireWest MidlandsJolly CrispinUpper Gornal, West MidlandsEast AngliaThe SwanLittle Totham, EssexKentShipwrights ArmsFavershamLondonRobin Hood & Little JohnBexleyheathSurrey/SussexEvening StarBrightonSouth WestCheck InnNorth Wroughton, WiltshireSouth WalesWern Fawr InnYstalyfera, SwanseaWessexBoot InnWeymouth, DorsetCentral SouthernBellAldworth, Buckinghamshire
2004 RegionPub NameLocationScotland/N.I.North WestNorth EastGreater ManchesterArden ArmsStockportMerseyside/North WalesBeartown TapCongleton, CheshireYorkshireKelham Island TavernSheffieldEast MidlandsWest MidlandsOlde SwanNetherton, West MidlandsEast AngliaEngineers ArmsHenlow, BedfordshireKentLondonSurrey/SussexSouth WestNew InnHalse, SomersetSouth WalesWessexQueen's HotelGosport, HampshireCentral Southern
Runners-up 2010: Taps, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire Beacon Hotel, Sedgley, West Midlands Salutation, Ham, near Berkeley, Gloucestershire 2009: Royal Oak Inn, Wantage, Oxon Crown Hotel, Worthington, Greater Manchester Royal Oak, Friday Street, West Sussex 2008: The Crown, Stockport, Greater Manchester Tom Cobley Tavern, Spreyton, Devon Royal Oak, Rusper, West Sussex 2007: Turks Head, St Helens, Merseyside Land of Liberty, Peace and Plenty, Heronsgate, Hertfordshire Blue Peter Hotel, Kirkcolm, Dumfries & Galloway 2006: Failford Inn, Failford, Ayrshire West Riding Refreshment Rooms, Dewsbury railway station, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire Dove Street Inn, Ipswich, East Anglia 2005: The Check Inn, North Wroughton, Wiltshire Old Coach House, Southwell, East Midlands Robin Hood, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear 2004: Arden Arms, Stockport, Greater Manchester New Inn, Halse, Somerset Olde Swan, Netherton, West Midlands 1998: Brewery Arms, Keighley Number 22, Darlington Plough and Harrow, Monknash, Glamorgan 1997: Blacksmith's Arms, Calbourne, Isle of Wight Railway, Yorton, Shropshire Pot Kiln, Frilsham, Berkshire Boat Inn, Ashleworth, Gloucestershire
See also Heritage pub