Hand & Flowers crowned top gastropub 2012

Two Michelin-starred the Hand & Flowers scooped the coveted number one place at the Top 50 Gastropubs Awards, held yesterday (6 Feb)

The pub in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, which scored its first star in 2006 and its second last October, rose from second place last year to be top dog in the Budweiser Budvar Top 50 Gastropubs Awards, in association with the Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA).

Chef proprietor of the Greene King pub Tom Kerridge told guests and fellow finalists it was an honour to be named the best gastropub in Britain. “It feels amazing to have won after being runner-up last year,” he said. “You all know how much hard work it is to even get one Michelin star, so getting two last October was amazing.

"We have broken the mould now and it is a great time for British pubs, proving how great British food is. I hope other pubs will follow because a lot of you out there really aren’t far behind us.”

The Michelin-starred Harwood Arms in Fulham, London, took the number two place, up from four the previous year and the two-year reigning champion the Star at Harome, North Yorkshire, ranked at number three.

Five special awards were won with the Canton Arms at Stockwell, London, receiving Highest Climber, having shot up the list from 50th place last year to number 17. Simon Farrimond of the Angel at Hetton, North Yorkshire, won Front of House Manager with Alex Pastrav of the Victoria in East Sheen, London being highly commended.

Gastropub Chef of the Year was won by Jason King of the Wellington Arms in Baughurst, Hampshire, and the Business Innovation award went to the Pigs in Edgefield, Norfolk, with the Bell at Alderminster, Warwickshire, being highly commended. The British Larder in Bromeswell, Suffolk, won Newcomer of the Year, with the Exeter Arms in Easton-on-the-Hill, Northamptonshire receiving a highly commended award.

The PMA collected votes from over 500 top gastropub operators, pub company chiefs, food writers, food guide editors and top chefs to collate the UK’s top 50 gastropubs. Winners were chosen through judging and site visits by industry experts.

Top 50 Gastropubs

1. Hand & Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire — Up 1

2. Harwood Arms, Fulham, London — Up 2

3. The Star at Harome, Helmsley, North Yorkshire — Down 2

4. The Anchor and Hope Waterloo, London SE1

5. Jack In The Green Inn, Rockbeare, nr Exeter, Devon

6. Royal Oak, Paley Street Berkshire

7. Hinds Head, Bray, Berkshire

8. The Hardwick, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire

9. Pipe and Glass, Beverly, East Yorkshire

10. The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent

11. Gurnards Head, Treen, Cornwall

12. The Olive Branch, Clipsham, Rutland, East Midlands

13. Pony & Trap, Chew Magna, Somerset

14. Wellington Arms, Baughurst, Hampshire

15. Masons Arms, Knowstone, Devon

16. The Bull and Last, Highgate, London

17. The Canton Arms, Stockwell, London

18. The Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon

19. The Stagg at Titley, Herefordshire

20. Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton St George, Somerset

21. The Garrison, Bermondsey, London

22. Three Fishes, Mitton, Lancashire

23. The Albion, Clifton, Bristol

24. The Eagle, Farringdon, London

25. The Mall Tavern, Notting Hill, London

26. Fox and Grapes, Wimbledon Common, London

27. Beckford Arms, Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire

28. The Black Horse, Ireland, Shefford, Bedfordshire

29. The Avalon, Balham Hill, London

30. Ye Olde Sun Inn, Colton, nr Tadcaster, North Yorkshire

31. The Angel, Hetton, North Yorkshire

32. British Larder, Bromeswell, Suffolk

33. The Gun at Docklands, London

34. The Wheatsheaf, Coombe Hay, Somerset

35. The Holt, Honiton, Devon

36. The Nut Tree, Murcott, Oxfordshire

37. The Victoria Inn, Perranuthnoe, Penzance, Cornwall

38. Drunken Duck, Ambleside, Cumbria

39. Kingham Plough, Kingham, Oxfordshire

40. The Queens Arms, Corton Denham, Somerset

41. King William, Bath

42. Freemasons Arms, Wiswell, Lancashire

43. Purefoy Arms, Hampshire

44. Magdalan Arms, Oxfordshire

45. Sands End, Wandsworth, London

46. The Fox, Willian, Hertfordshire

47. Masons Arms, Cartmell Fell, Cumbria

48. The Stag, OffChurch, Warwickshire

49. The White Horse, Parsons Green, London

50. The Thomas Cubitt, Belgravia, London