Tom Kerridge's Hand & Flowers crowned UK's top gastropub for third consecutive year

Tom Kerridge’s two-Michelin-starred the Hand and Flowers has been crowned top gastropub in the UK for the third year running at the Budweiser Budvar Top 50 Gastropubs Awards.

The Greene King lease in Marlow, Buckinghamshire received the most votes in a prestigious industry poll organised by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

Around 450 respected people across the industry including top chefs, food writers and journalists, guide editors and pubco chiefs cast their votes to determine the top 50 gastropubs pubs in the UK.

The top 50 pubs and special award winners were revealed by food writer and Great British Menu judge Matthew Fort at a lunch ceremony at Anglian Country Inns’ Hermitage Rd. in Hitchin, Hertfordshire today (27 January).

Chef patron Tom Kerridge and wife Beth have run the pub since 2005, achieving a first Michelin star in 2006 and a second in 2011.

Shepherd Neame tenancy the Sportsman in Seasalter, Kent was runner-up once again, while Michelin-starred the Pony & Trap in Chew Magna, Bristol took third after moving up nine places from number 12 in the 2013 awards.

Special awards

Six special awards were handed out with Masterchef: The Professionals winner Anton Piotrowski’s pub the Treby Arms scooping highest new entry at 17; and Young’s pub the Ship in Wandsworth winning Highest Climber after jumping up 35 places to 14. The pub is the host venue for the annual Scotch Egg Challenge.

Holly Eggleton of the Pony & Trap, which placed third, won Front of House Manager of the Year, while her brother and Pony & Trap head chef Josh scooped the coveted Gastropub Chef of the Year title. South-east pubco Whiting & Hammond won Business Innovation of the Year for its quarterly Gastro magazine and Tom Kitchin’s the Scran & Scallie in Edinburgh walked away with Newcomer of the Year.

Michelin Pub of the Year 2014 the Greyhound on the Test in Stockbridge, Hampshire was highly commended in the category.

Highland Park whisky sponsored the Front of House Manager category, Berkmann Wine Cellars sponsored Newcomer of the Year and BPEX is also an associate partner of the awards.

The Top 50 gastropubs in full:

1 Hand & Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire

2 The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent

3 The Pony & Trap, Chew Magna, Somerset

4 The Pipe & Glass Inn, Beverley, East Yorkshire

5 The Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire              

6 Royal Oak Paley Street, Nr Maidenhead, Berkshire

7 Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market, Norfolk

8 Harwood Arms, Fulham, London

9 The Hardwick, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire

10 The Bull & Last, Highgate, London

11 The Gurnard’s Head, Zennor, St Ives, Cornwall

12 Anchor & Hope, Waterloo, London

13 Hinds Head, Bray, Berkshire

14 The Ship, Wandsworth, London

15 The British Larder, Bromeswell, Suffolk

16 The Jugged Hare, Moorgate, London

17 The Treby Arms, Sparkwell, Devon

18 Canton Arms, Stockwell, London

19 Drapers Arms, Islington, North London

20 Jack in the Green, Rockbeare, Devon

21 Cornish Arms, Tavistock, Devon

22 Wellington Arms, Baughurst, Hampshire

23 Olive Branch, Clipsham, Rutland

24 Butchers Arms, Eldersfield, Worcestershire

25 The Long Arms, South Wraxall, Wiltshire

26 Duncombe Arms, Ellastone, Staffordshire

27 Beckford Arms, Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire

28 Freemasons at Wiswell, Cltheroe, Lancashire

29 The Plough, Longparish, Hampshire

30 Masons Arms, Knowstone, Devon

31 Scran & Scallie, Edinburgh

32 Broad Chare, Newcastle, Newcastle

33 The Stagg Inn, Titley, Herefordshire

34 Nut Tree, Murcott, Oxfordshire

35 Lady Ottoline, Holborn, London

36 Anchor Inn, Walberswick, Suffolk

37 Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon, Powys

38 Somers Town Coffee House, Euston, London

39 Kensington Arms, Cotham, Bristol

40 Vintage, Leith, Edinburgh

41 Rat Inn, Anick, Northumberland                                                         

42 Red Lion, Cricklade, Wiltshire

43 The Eagle, Farringdon, London

44 Garrison, Bermondsey, London

45 The Feathered Nest, Nether Westcote, Cotswolds

46 The Angel, Hetton, North Yorkshire

47 The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk

48 The Parkers Arms, Clitheroe, Lancashire

49 The Pot Kiln, Frilsham, Berkshire

50 Wheatsheaf, Northleach, Gloucestershire

Check out the 30 Jan issue of the PMA for full awards coverage.