Stephen Harris’s self-styled ‘grotty boozer by the sea’ in Seasalter, Kent, which has one Michelin star and has come top of the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list for the past two years in a row, was awarded the title at an awards ceremony at 100 Wardour Street in London last night (26 April).
The Sportsman saw off competition from finalists including Tom Kerridge’s second site, the Coach, Marlow, Heston Blumenthal’s Michelin-starred Bray pub the Hinds Head, the Harwood Arms, Fulham, the Punchbowl, Mayfair, and the Cross Keys, Chelsea.
Recognition
Publican’s Morning Advertiser food & drink editor Nicholas Robinson said: “We’re always proud to see pubs getting the recognition they deserve for serving top-quality food. All of the finalists are superb operations.
“Stephen’s cooking at the Sportsman is utterly sublime – this is a well-deserved win.”
The Sportsman won Gastropub of the Year and came in second place overall in 2015’s National Restaurant Awards.
Wine bar
As well as running the pub, last year Harris took on a consultant chef role overseeing menu development at London wine bar and restaurant Noble Rot in Lamb’s Conduit Street.