Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, is UK's top gastropub

By Lesley Foottit

- Last updated on GMT

Hand & Flowers: UK's top gastropub
Hand & Flowers: UK's top gastropub
Two-Michelin-starred the Hand & Flowers has scooped the coveted top spot at the Budweiser Budvar Top 50 Gastropub Awards for the second year running.

The Greene King lease in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, received the most votes during a prestigious industry poll of over 500 voters including celebrity chefs, pub guide editors, food journalists and writers and industry trade chiefs, organised by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.​ Chef patron Tom Kerridge has run the pub with wife Beth since 2005 and has held one star since 2006 and two since 2011.

Shepherd Neame tenancy the Sportsman in Seasalter, Kent, took second place after moving up eight places and previous winner the Star in Harome, North Yorkshire, remained at number three for the second year.

Masterchef winner Anton Piotrowski congratulated Kerridge on his success: "When I heard I was going to be working at The Hand & Flowers, I knew it would be one of the most influential cooking experiences of my life. If I didn't have my own full-time business, I would give my right arm for a job there.

"His food is right up my street, serving fish and chips and still having two Michelin stars. That shows how much talent this guy has! A big well done from all the team here."

Six special awards were won with the Gunton Arms in Thorpe Market, Norwich, scooping Highest New Entry and last year’s Newcomer of the Year the British Larder in Bromeswell, Suffolk, landing Highest Climber after shooting 18 places up the list to number 14.

Mike Champion of the Red Lion in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire won Front of House Manager of the Year; the Somers Town Coffee House in Euston, London won Business Innovation of the Year with its secret upstairs supper club Ssshh; the Swan at Wedmore, Somerset walked away with Newcomer of the Year; and James Durrant of the Plough, Longparish, Hampshire scooped Gastropub Chef of the Year.

The top 50 pubs and special award winners were revealed at a lunch ceremony at the Crazy Bear in Stadhampton, Oxfordshire, today (28 January). The awards recognise the outlets pushing the boundaries of pub food and creating thriving businesses.

The awards were presented by Jay Rayner.

The top 50 gastropubs

1 Hand & Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire

2 The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent

3 Star at Harome, Helmsley, North Yorkshire

4 Pipe & Glass Inn, Beverly, East Yorkshire

5 Harwood Arms, Fulham, London

6 The Royal Oak Paley Street, Maidenhead, Berkshire

7 The Anchor & Hope, Waterloo, London

8 The Hardwick, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire

9 Hinds Head, Bray, Berkshire

10 Beckford Arms, Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire

11 The Bull & Last, Highgate, London

12 Pony & Trap, Chew Magna, Bristol

13 Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market, Norwich

14 British Larder, Bromeswell, Suffolk

15 Gurnards Head, Zennor, Cornwall

16 Canton Arms, Stockwell, London

17 Jack in the Green, Rockbeare, near Exeter, Devon

18 Masons Arms, Knowstone, Devon

19 Olive Branch, Clipsham, Rutland

20 Wellington Arms, Baughurst, Hampshire

21 Drapers Arms, Islington, London

22 Felin Fach Griffin, Felin Fach, Brecon, Powys

23 The Angel, Hetton, near Skipton, North Yorkshire

24 Mall Tavern, Notting Hill, London

25 The Eagle, Farringdon, London

26 The Plough, Longparish, Hampshire

27 Butchers Arms, Eldersfield, Gloucestershire

28 The Garrison, Bermondsey, London

29 Pot Kiln, Frilsham, Berkshire

30 Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton St George, Somerset

31 Ye Olde Sun Inn, Colton, near tadcaster, North Yorkshire

32 Three Fishes, Mitton, Lancashire

33 Anvil, Sawdon, North Yorkshire

34 Jugged Hare, Moorgate, London

35 The Ship, Wandsworth, London

36 The Nut Tree, Murcott, Oxfordshire

37 Freemasons at Wiswell, Wiswell, Lancashire

38 Marlborough Tavern, Bath

39 Masons Arms, Cartmell Fell, Cumbria

40 Duke of Cumberland, Henley, West Sussex

41 Rat Inn, Anick, Northumberland

42 Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston, Lancashire

43 Purefoy Arms, Preston Candover, Hampshire

44 Butchers Arms, Hepworth, Yorkshire

45 Wheatsheaf, Northleach, Gloucestershire

46 The Broad Chare, Newcastle

47 Bell Inn, Hampton, Middlesex

48 Millbrook Inn, South Pool, Devon

49 White Hart, Fyfield, Oxfordshire

50 Somerstown Coffee House, Euston, London

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